We’ve been taking the simplest things

Very much or all too much

For granted:

Temperate climate,

Sun,

Rain.

.

No more, I fear

[And I choose the verb advisedly].

.

After three, two-week-or-more 40°C+

Heatwaves, almost end to end,

I danced on the doorstep in the rain

[Well, when I say ‘danced’ …

More a case of ‘moved about liberally’ –

Think of the pictures conjured up

By the youngsters’ term: ‘Dad Dancing’

And you won’t be far off!!’]

 .

That was a storm in a proverbial teacup

Compared to last night’s deluge.

Spent half an hour in the car

Parked outside our home

Waiting for it to subside

Before daring to risk the 14 steps

And as many paces to get to the front door

Without need of water wings,

A snorkel and the services of a lifeguard!

Didn’t work.

Didn’t ease up.

 .

Got out of the back seat.

Opened the boot.

Grabbed the umbrellas.

Opened two of them

For the driver and second passenger.

By that point I was soaked to the skin

And wading ankle-deep

In a stream possessed of its own waves

[And probably tides!].

Similar freak storms in Southern England

And today neighbouring Wales declares a

A hosepipe ban!

The Welsh – what can I tell you?!

.

Never in living memory,

Perhaps never in history

Have we seen this

Nature out-of-controlness.

Will the aquifers refill

Or will the rapid run-off

Sluice away valuable topsoil

And send it [and its charge of pesticides]

Into our rivers and down to the sea?

Will the maize recover after the heat?

Will the tomatoes and grapes survive

Or explode in imbibing

What they’ve been missing?

.

We’ll see, but, sadly,

I suspect,

We’ll see worse to come…

.

NB. Photo. « All the clouds that loured upon our House.. »  Shakespeare. Richard III.