Your Daily Poem

This site exists for one purpose only: to help dispel the ugly and absolutely untrue myth that poetry is boring. Granted, a lot of poetry is boring, but you won't find it here. At Your Daily Poem, you'll find poetry that is touching, funny, provocative, inspiring, uplifting, and surprising. It may punch you in the gut, it may bring tears to your eyes, it may make you laugh out loud, but it most assuredly will not bore you!

Poetry on YDP—by poets living and long dead, famous to completely unknown--is specially selected for accessibility and appeal. Thanks so much for visiting—and remember: a poem a day keeps the doldrums away!

Working in the Rain
by
Robert Morgan

My father loved more than anything to
work outside in wet weather. Beginning
at daylight he'd go out in dripping brush
to mow or pull weeds for hog and chickens.
First his shoulders got damp and the drops from
his hat ran down his back. When even his
armpits were soaked he came in to dry out
by the fire, making coffee, read a little.
But if the rain continued he'd soon be
restless, and go out to sharpen tools in
the shed or carry wood from the pile,
then open up a puddle to the drain,
working by steps back into the downpour.
I thought he sought the privacy of rain,
the one time no one was likely to be
out and he was left to the intimacy
of drops touching every leaf and tree in
the woods and the easy mutterings of
drip and runoff, the shine of pools behind
grass dams. He could not resist the long
ritual, the companionship and freedom
of falling weather, or even the cold
drenching, the heavy soak and chill of clothes
and sobbing of fingers and sacrifice
of shoes that earned a baking by the fire
and washed fatigue after the wandering
and loneliness in the country of rain.

From Topsoil Road (Louisiana State University Press, 2000).
Used here with permission from LSU Press.

Robert Morgan was born and raised in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and explored music, math, and science before following his heart into a hugely successful writing career. Robert has taught at universities all over the country and is the author of 36 books. At ease and equally accomplished in multiple genres, he has won major awards for his poetry, fiction, and short stories, as well as grants and fellowships for his entire body of work. Much of Robert's work is based on his early memories and experiences with Appalachian life; his novel, Gap Creek, was an Oprah's Book Club selection. Retired since 2022 after 51 years of teaching writing and literature at Cornell University, he now divides his time between Ithaca, New York and Zirconia, North Carolina. Learn more about Robert at www.robert-morgan.com.

Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now Buy Now

dianapoet:
Beautiful. The privacy of rain...
Posted 04/07/2011 09:34 PM

KevinArnold:
"I think he sought the privacy of rain," great line, such an elegant way to steer the poem inward. Fine poem.
Posted 04/05/2011 08:57 AM

dotief@comcast.net:
Perfect poem for my morning. The day started with a downpour and has slackened off to a drizzle. It is so cleansing--the poem and the rain.
Posted 04/05/2011 07:58 AM

michelle:
I love todays poem, its like looking at a picture, delightful. Reminds me of things my father did, like most of us I guess. The rain, always so graphic, the beautiful rain. Thank you Jayne for sharing this with us today.
Posted 04/05/2011 04:08 AM

Contents of this web site and all original text and images therein are copyright © by Your Daily Poem. All rights reserved.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Purchasing books through any poet's Amazon links helps to support Your Daily Poem.
The material on this site may not be copied, reproduced, downloaded, distributed, transmitted, stored, altered, adapted,
or otherwise used in any way without the express written permission of the owner.