Another slow day
For storm watching.
December on Vancouver Island
Generally consists of an unending stream
Of wave after wave
Of rainstorms
(Snow at elevations)
And wind
Attacking from Pacific Waters.
But this year
We have a young boy
Visiting us,
El Niño,
Maybe you have heard of him.
Last week he made
Life miserable
For "Sunny" California.
I should be storm watching
There,
For they have suffered our rain
And we, stolen their sun.
So,
When I took my seat
On the balcony bench
For work today,
All I saw was sun and blue skies
Not what a self-appointed
Watcher of Storms
Is supposed to see.
But Hey!
In December on this Island
Any sun is a welcome respite
From the gloom of rain, rain, rain.
A clear blue winter sky
Is winning the Weather Lottery.
Protected there
As I was
From the hand of a cool wind,
I leaned back
Under the solar warmth
And closed my eyes.
Though Christmas closes in,
No vision of sugar plums
Danced in my head,
But brilliant hues of red:
Alizarian crimson, scarlet lake,
Rose carmethene, cardinal
Vermillion, cerise,
Cherry, salmon,
Blazed within my eyes
As solar rays traversed
Blood-filled lids.
Tonight the rains
May return
But for a few hours
Today,
I was self-appointed
Watcher of Winter Sun.