by Steve Sakiyama –
“I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.” (Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat)
By April, I’m ready to move on from grey clouds and rain. More sunshine, please. At the same time, I embrace them as a mysterious and soothing presence, an essential element in the composition of an amazing, coastal skyscape. These conflicting desires led me to write an anguished poem that gave voice to my weather-related angst. It was inspired by a classic poem of profound insight, written by a distinguished author who influenced my early writing. I give all credit to Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
Do you like grey clouds and rain?
I do not like them, Steve I am.
Would you like them here or there?
I would not like them here or there, I would not like them anywhere.
I would not like them in the day, I would not like them any way.
I would not like them in the park, I would not like them in the dark.
I do not like grey clouds and rain,
I do not like them, Steve I am.
You do not like them, so you say.
Try them! Try them! And you may.
Try them and you may I say.
Alright! If you let me be,
I will try them, you will see.
Out I go in the grey clouds and rain,
Even though they are a drain.
Saaay … I do like them! I do! I do!
I will like them in the park, I will like them in the dark.
I will like them here and there, I will like them anywhere.
I do like grey clouds and rain,
I do like them, Steve I am.
Speaking of falling raindrops, did you know that those with diameters less than two millimetres are spherical, while larger drops look like a hamburger bun? Yes, a hamburger bun, not a teardrop. In addition, not all raindrops are the same size. Over a hundred years ago, Wilson “Snowflake” Bently (a Vermont farmer and pioneer in the physics of snowflake shapes and raindrops) measured raindrop sizes by placing plates of flour outside during a rain event. The drops would form dough balls on the plate which he later proved to be the size of raindrops. Upon measuring them, he discovered that raindrops have a wide variety of sizes. (By the way, if he had deep-fried those dough balls, he would have also discovered Timbits.)
So will grey clouds and rain be the theme for April here on the South Island? Long-range models are undecided on how wet things will be, although they do show a greater chance of warmer than normal temperatures.
Whatever the weather, April means new life – a wondrous, glorious emergence of the natural environment in an amazing panorama that fills our senses. So head outside and immerse yourself in the warm sunshine that illuminates a captivating picture of lush green landscapes, foaming blue seas, and wondrous golden skies dotted with … grey clouds and rain. It’s all on display, cloudy or sunny. Go out and enjoy. Have good fun that is funny.
~ Weatherwit
