PAVEMENT PARCHED WITH BLISTERING HEAT
BURNING BENEATH THE SOLES OF MY FEET – TOO HURTFUL NOT TO WEAR
ANY SHOES.
THEN, THE RAIN CLOUDS BEGIN TO GATHER
AS THEY BILLOW MORE INTENSELY.
I SENSE THAT UNIQUE SCENT — EVEN BEFORE MY EYES
CATCH A
GLIMPSE OF THE FIRST REFRESHING RAINDROPS.
THAT SMELL, THE ONE I’VE KNOWN AND LOVED AS A KID, WHEN GETTING
CAUGHT IN A HEAVY DOWNPOUR WHILE RIDING MY BIKE.
THE STEAM SLOWLY RISING UPWARDS FROM THE CALESCENT CONCRETE,
RELEASING A VAPOR THAT STIRRED MY SENSES.
“PETRICHOR.” –THAT’S WHAT IT’S CALLED! THAT “EARTH SCENT”,
PRODUCED WHEN RAIN FALLS ON ARID LAND AND
GENERATES OIL INTO THE AIR. – –
PETRA – MEANING STONE AND ICHOR
MEANING FLUID IN GREEK.
AND NOW, AFTER LEARNING THIS TECHNICAL EXPLANATION – I MAY NOT
ENJOY THIS EXPERIENCE AS MUCH AS I DID THEN!
Thanks, Laura, for framing it in that context…spot on!
Your lines remind us, Joe, that sometimes learning the technical explanation behind a moment of awe robs us of the magic and allure of the moment at hand. A fine word, “petrichor,” but–as you point out–it can never capture what the senses celebrate.