Apr 2
Requiem for a Rainy Day
1. Introit
rest
in the soft
sweetness
of a rainy day
open
the windows
sit easy
rest
2. Kyrie
have mercy on the gray skies
mercy on the rain drops
mercy on the wet rainbowed asphalt
mercy for the dreariness
mercy for the boredom
mercy for the lack-luster
3. Recordare
remember the sound
of the rain on the roof
remember the smell
of dampened dust
remember the blur
of the cloudy mist
4. Lacrimosa
oh weep with the sky
weep with the rain drops
weep for the oiled street
cry for the dreariness
cry for the boredom
oh cry for the rainy day
5. Offertorium
the clouds offer rain to the soil
the soil offers rain to the trees
the trees offer breath to the clouds
none ask anything for themselves
6. Lux Aeternae
see the light from day reflected in the rain
light from the sky
light from the covered sun
light streaming around you
light within you forever and forever
7. Benedictus
may the rain find you safe from storm
may the clouds shelter you from vast openness
may the rest comfort you
may the boredom release your imagination
may the rainy day offer you its blessing
as you wake, rise, and go out into the world
So be it.
Pamela Olson, 4/2/08
This poem was inspired by the prompt, “Requiem” at Two for Tuesdays.
13 Comments so far
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one of the reasons my post is late is i so wanted to reflect the mass in my post… but in the blend of the spiritual and the sexual,,, i felt it was a bit blasphemous in its current state…so i “drafted” it and wrote something else entirely…
this was perfect tho,, and in the way you illuminated the parts of the mass… brilliant!!!!
I was so happy to see your post. It gives me great pleasure whenever anyone breathes new life into old forms (this being a Requiem there’ no pun intended.) Not only was I happy with the attempt, I really like the product. Every section is fine. You’re in control of the form, the verbal and emotional compression is right-on, and the flow and up-beat ending all work. Really, really good job!
Paisley, I’d love to see your sexual/spiritual offering.
I’m thinking all us current or lapsed RC’s ought to put an on-line Missal together. Any takers? I’ll host (no pun int…)
PS: My take on the Stations of the Cross is here:
The Persistence of Faith
PS: Nitpicking - would it be Requiem on…rather than for?
I love rain and I believe you portrayed it well.
this posts of yours pam is the one that ive been looking for this past days…. it surely relieved my boredom….
i have nothing else to do here except sleep and eat….
nice imagery., you said it does not rain often in your place, but see now you described splendidly, the rain..
Bravo
I have been writing about rain since being inspired by spending Spring Break in Seattle. It was rainy and lovely.
Oh, thank you for this perfect poem.
- R.
I love this, you beautifully define rain and rainy days
Lovely. The restraint and the passion are marvelous. I see someone kneeling in a garden one hard night long ago as I read this.
[...] as an excerpt from “Requiem For A Rainy Day“, licensed under Creative Commons. My hat’s off to Pamela [...]
This was terrific. I love rainy days, thanks for the inspiring words and fabulous photo too!
Another kyrie day here…
Very nice (and unusually short) requiem.
Pam-
This was wonderful. My love for rainy days is legendary and I will always think of this poem as I stare out the window at the lovely, sad, necessary, beautiful rain.
Thank you
Heather