Rainy Days and Mondays Isn't Only The Name Of A Song

It rained last night and the forecast in our area is for more the next three days. Tuesday conditions will be right for possible severe storms. As much as we need the moisture in the state of Kansas, no one wants to see heavy hailstorms or tornado activity. A nice soaking rain would be most welcome, however. We've been declared an Extreme Drought area so we'll take what we can get.

Last week, we talked a bit about writing haiku poetry, many of which deal with the seasons, nature and also weather. But there are other types of poems to write that center around weather. Free verse, rhymed poetry and other more specific forms will help you describe days that bring us rain and thunder.

You can also write good descriptive paragraphs about a stormy day. Use it as an exercise. The picture above should be some inspiration. Review the lyrics of the song Rainy Days and Mondays made popular years ago by The Carpenters.

An entire story can be developed using the rainy day as the base on which the story plays out. Once again, a possibility for some good descriptive phrases. A nonfiction article about inclement spring weather in the area in which you live might be just the right subject for a local magazine or newspaper.

What sensory details come to mind when you study the picture here? Smell--sound--sight--touch--perhaps even taste if you stood outside with your tongue haning out! Think about it. What does the rain smell like? What sounds do you hear on a rainy day? Big ones and/or soft ones. What do you see when you look out your window on a day when the skies have opened up? How does it feel if you open your car window and put your hand out to catch the raindrops? And yes, what does it taste like if you dance in the rain with your mouth open? A stretch perhaps, but that might lend itself well to a story you're writing.

How about mood? What do you feel like on a day when the sun hides and the rain pounds steadily all day? Some of us hate it while others revel in it.

Give some thought to the questions I've asked. Study the picture and try your hand at a poem, story or article. Send it to me via the comments section. I'd love to see what you come up with.