Downpour

The rain savages downtown with
a wet rage as mad as Niagra Falls
drenching people transformed into
zombies consumed with desperation
seeking shelter kicking up stylish legs
in acrobatic postures running, straddling,
stretching into taxicabs slamming doors,
striding breathlessly into hotel lobbies,
bars, glimmering cafeterias staffed
by uniformed personnel. The rain
pelts the smooth street with the fury
of brimstone falling on Gomorrah,
a checkerboard of panoramic windows
climbing toward the wrathful sky reveal
not one moral person as office girls
stand behind a glass door giggling as if
they've never seen rain in their lives,
nevermind Gotterdammerung,
the gutter has become a brimming moat,
the sidewalk tree is whipped by wind,
I see the maelstrom vulnerable in my shirt,
I have no umbrella, no coat.




Poetry by Peter J. Kautsky
Read 934 times
Written on 2009-08-02 at 03:25

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shells
Much enjoyed, you have such a descriptive ability that makes the poem so clear to "see" if that makes sense. Excellent penultimate line.
2012-09-11


Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
This is very good, very descriptive especially of the suddeness of summer rain, where it can just pelt down and soak you - I enjoyed, thank you

Elle x
2009-08-03


Brian Oarr
A cloudburst of confusion hits the page and the magic of poetry emerges. This is why we write, this is why we read. As good as it gets, Peter!
2009-08-02



A very effective downpour of words here, that makes the scene come to life. Great cooperation between form and substance.
Regards, /M.
2009-08-02



I love the title as it says it all. Your descriptions flowed like a rush of verbal rain and the washing away of debri. Rain can bring so much life and too much can bring total destruction, the comparisons of downpour experiences are amazing. Having no umbrella or rain coat well I know what that's like. Thanks for sharing your experiences. :)
2009-08-02


NicholasG
We got the same yesterday but all said was holy s--t!
Then the windows fogged up so I pulled up under an overpass.
Great descriptive powers at work, Peter!
Nick
2009-08-02


cordell
I enjoyed this and the images that it brought to mind. I especially liked the phrase "with the fury of brimstone falling on Gomorrah," Great line
2009-08-02