Yuudachi

I was caught without my umbrella  and it was a pretty long walk to the door to get inside. I started to scurry indoors when I noticed how refreshing this sudden evening rain was to me at that moment in time. It had been a very trying day. I sat back and gave myself to the cool water flowing over my body. I sunk down in the chair and raised my head to the heavens. If I had feathers, I would have joyously ruffled them. I felt healing waters wash me of the frustrations of this world. Could I count the raindrops? Did not even try. Why quantify the beauty of nature?

the cool rain cleanses

a Wren plays in a puddle

lightening strikes

~~~

© Carol Campbell

Haibun Monday: 50 Shades of Rain

Toni Spenser is our host for Haibun Monday and he asks us to write about rain in a non-fiction haibun. Here is a list of many words that the Japanese have for their revered rain.

“The Japanese actually have 50+ words for rain unlike the Inuit which really do not have 100s of words for snow.  Being Japanese, their words for rain are seasonal and specific and at times, extremely artistic.  We Westerners look at rain as rain – the same rain that falls in the morning in spring is the same rain that falls at night in autumn.  Right?  Nope. The Japanese are so in tune with the changing of the seasons around them and how those seasons affect them, they created haiku – a poetic form about changing seasons, nature, and the now.  The melancholy felt when the seasons changed and climate changes took place are part of their concept of mono no aware. Here are some of the “rain” words for you:
ame –  rain
kosame –  light rain
kisame – rain that drips from tree branches
enu – misty rain
ooame – heavy rain
yokoburi – driving rain
shuuchuugouu – severe localized downpour
uro – rain and dew
kanu – cold winter rain
shun rin – spring rain
shun u – gentle spring rain
shuu rin – autumn rain
ugo – after rain
nagame – long rain
yuudachi  – sudden evening rain
shinotsukuame – intense rain
yulimajiri  – snow and rain
uhyou –  freezing rain
hisame – very cold rain or hail
ryokuu – summer rain
touu – winter rain
houshanouu – radioactive rain”

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