After the Fires, Rain – a poem by Meryl Natchez

After the Fires, Rain


With this downpour 
the earth seems washed, 
after the long, late summer
of fire. 

Even if your couch and table
your walls and bed are damp ash
in heaps by your burnt-out car
not one sodden flap of cardboard
left of your photo albums,
even if your washer-dryer 
stands like the scorched scaffolding 
of normal, 
even if you don’t know 
what you will do today, tomorrow,

is it possible?
 
for one wet moment
after the loss of everything
the morning light 
sifts through clouds,
raindrops 
glisten
a benediction.

Meryl Natchez’ fourth book, CATWALK, received an Indie Best Book 2020 Award from Kirkus Reviews. Natchez’ work has appeared or is forthcoming in Alaska Quarterly Review, LA Review of Books, Hudson Review, Poetry Northwest, Literary Matters, Tupelo Quarterly, ZYZZYVA, and others. More at www.merylnatchez.com