Year of Rain

First published by Origami Poems Project in February 2025 as a microchapbook titled Year of Rain (view or download the free PDF, which is meant to be cut and folded to produce an eight-page book). Originally written in January of 2020 and 2025. In addition to itemizing the months of the year, a secondary theme is that each verse refers to or implies a part of the body. The cover photograph is my own, taken in June of 2024 at The Grotto in Portland, Oregon. See also “Star Wheel.”

January rain—

a pebble shaken

from my shoe

February rain—

a hooker at the corner

takes off her ring

March rain—

my teenage daughter

tries on new glasses

April rain—

handkerchiefs for sale

at the thrift store

May rain—

the mask I wear

to the office

June rain—

Dad turns off

his hearing aid

July rain—

scar marks at the end

of the bus driver’s sleeve

August rain—

again Mom’s toenails

painted red

September rain—

my knee MRI

rescheduled

October rain—

shin guards

in the laundry basket

November rain—

elbow grease

gets the stain out

December rain—

my daughter kisses me

on the chin

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