Poem #4 Drought

Drought

When will it rain?

The farmer’s cry.

Drought.

When will it rain?

Will it ever?

Never?

Cracked parched earth,

Animals die,

Rot.

Birds are songless, most

Long gone like the

Grass.

Black thunder clouds gather

Lining the horizon –

Rain?

Each heart prays and

Aches for rain –

Now?

Clouds loom, dark, foreboding,

Gigantic masses of

Promise.

Lightning flashes, thunder rolls.

Clouds pass – dry

Storm.

Broken, weary, hopeless.

Downcast we

Wait.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2006 Trevor W. Hampel

Read more of my poetry here.

 

31 Responses to “Poem #4 Drought”

  1. Rick says:

    This is excellent, Trevor! I love the imagery. It evoked the pictures I’ve seen of drought-stricken areas vividly, and the emotions caused by the lack of rain.

  2. Trevor says:

    Thanks Rick. This is very much the plight of many Aussie farmers on a regular basis. While I wrote this piece in the 70s the drought in vast sections of Australia in the last few years have been, and continue to be, devastating. Where we live the season started well this year but then nothing for several months until this last week – almost too late for good crops and pastures.

  3. Sam says:

    i love this poem, simple yet extremely effective. and i know the images well comming from a drought stricken farm.
    loved reading it over and over

  4. Trevor says:

    Thanks for the kind words Sam. It delights me when readers not only enjoy what I have written but care enough to leave a comment. Thanks again.

  5. Melanie says:

    Hi –
    I would like to use this poem in a school performance we have coming up. Would you mind?

  6. Trevor says:

    Hi there Melanie. I would be delighted to give you permission to use this poem in your performance. I congratulate you on having the courtesy to ask before going ahead. Please let me know how it went. I will add extra information in an email.

  7. Jac says:

    Hi, i would also like to use this poem for a performance at school. I have chosen to do mine on drought and i think that this poem would be beneficial to my performance. Could i use it and would you have any other poems with similar content about drought or the effects of drought. Thanks.

  8. Trevor says:

    Hi there Jac – thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Of course you may use the poem in your performance. You might also take a look at my other poems here:
    http://www.trevorhampel.com/my-poetry/

  9. kait says:

    hi, i was wondering if you would know any or have written poems with lots of Similes and Metaphors and such. Even though i really like this poem i’m looking for a different kind of one. Thanx.

  10. Trevor says:

    Hi there Kait – welcome to my blog. Many poets use similes and metaphors in their poems. Go to the Contents section on the sidebar and click on My Poetry to read more of my poems. I hope you find what you are looking for.

  11. christine says:

    this is a great poem!!!

  12. Trevor says:

    Thank you Christine. Thanks for visiting and for the positive comment.

  13. RYAN!@ says:

    hey 😀 can i please use your poem for a religion assignment, we are doing stuff about drought and this really speaks to me!!1

  14. RYAN!@ says:

    like really!

  15. Trevor says:

    Hi there Ryan – sorry about the delay in replying to your request. I’ve been away at university all day and most of the evening.

    You certainly can use this poem in your assignment. All I ask is that you observe the usual rules of attribution – with my name as it appears after the poem. You may want to also include the URL of this page as follows:

    http://www.trevorhampel.com/poem-4-drought/

    All the best with your assignment.

  16. Eb says:

    I love this poem. I have to create a web page for school. i’ve chosen ‘drought’ and I was wondering if i could please use this poem. I, of course will add a link to your site, and reference it correctly.

  17. Trevor says:

    Certainly Eb.

    Let me know when you have it up and if appropriate, I will link back to your site too.

  18. jasmin says:

    i really liked your poem
    can i please use it in my drama assignment
    it is on drought

  19. Trevor says:

    Hi there Jasmin,

    You certainly have my permission to use this poem in your assignment. Make sure to acknowledge me as the author though. All the best with your studies.

  20. lolololololo says:

    I love this poem
    But please someone tell me who is the poem write I need this for my assigment ASAP
    Thanks
    LOve this poem so much

  21. lolololololo says:

    Dw guys I found who wrote it
    I guess i wasent looking properly at the start
    lololololol

  22. lolololololo says:

    Hello Trevor
    I was wondering if I can use this poem for my school assignment cause it is such a beautiful poem.
    Please reply ASAP cause I need o hand in my assignment soon
    thanks

  23. Jess Hartley says:

    hey trevor
    im from london beautiful poem stunning imagery (:

  24. surbhi says:

    Hi.i am from India.i love this poem very much.This is a awesome poem.

  25. Rishin Kutmut says:

    I think this poem is intelligent but also could use better use of words. The best poems in English say the most in the least. Meaning that in this poem many words are wasted. However I must say that the use of description and different realistic scenery is exellen.

  26. Rishin Kutmut says:

    Exellent i mean

  27. Rishin Kutmut says:

    What do you think of this poem I wrote. I used some parts and changed them slightly if that’s alright.

    Dry arid land,
    Cracks in the dry mud,
    Looking up at the sky praying for rain.

    Looking into the distance,
    The world shimmers
    As the heat waves dance.

    Across the farm,
    Green is scanty,
    Replaced by a scorching red or brown.

    Birds and other animals migrate,
    They’re all gone,
    Just like the crops.

  28. ED says:

    Incredible poem Rishin k

  29. Rishin Kutmut says:

    Dry arid land,
    Cracks in the dry mud,
    Looking up at the sky praying for rain.

    Looking into the distance,
    The world shimmers
    As the heat waves dance.

    Across the farm,
    Green is scanty,
    Replaced by a scorching red or brown.

    Birds and other animals migrate,
    They’re all gone,
    Just like the crops.

  30. Asheika Jones says:

    that was very interesting i really feel it for those farmers and i am also a poem writer and i want to publish a poem book but i don’t know how to reach the persons that do those things