LesleyScoble.com

Petrichor: a fragrant poem

The d’Verse Poetics—One Word poetry prompt hosted by Kim is as follows:

Choose ONE word from the list below (definitions in brackets):

  • anachronism (the placing of persons, events, objects, or customs in times to which they do not belong; a person or a thing out of place in time and especially the present time)
  • filipendulous (hanging precariously – usually by a single thread)
  • limerence (an involuntary state of intense desire)
  • petrichor (a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather)
  • pulchritudinous (beautiful)
  • symphonia (musical unison)

Now USE YOUR CHOSEN WORD AS THE TITLE OF A POEM, in any form of your choice, which explores that word in one (or more) of the following ways:

  • anthropomorphise the word (give it human qualities) –
  • use zoomorphism (give the word animal qualities) –
  • objectify the word (describe it as an object)
  • write the poem ‘through the eyes’ of the word
  • put yourself in its shoes – write a stream of consciousness or ‘abstract’ poem about the word
  • write an acrostic of the word

From this awesome list, I chose the word PETRICHOR (I was in the mood for a pleasant smell). I attempt to write the poem from the POV of the word.

Petrichor

wild flowers in the meadow after he rain | Photo©️Lesley Scoble

LISTEN TO THE RAIN

PETRICHOR 

The rain falls upon my upturned face 
I rejoice and rise from my secret place 
The downpour soothes my fevered brow 
Its water-flow casts a magic spell 
and I drink deep from the pluvial well 
The drought is over now 

Puddle waterspouts leap in melodic time 
Dancing a perfumed pantomime 
My fragrant breath breathes relief across parched plains 
Breathing out the sweetness of the rains 
Rain tapping soft and loud on window panes 
A lullaby of dreamers in their bowers 
Soothed with showers 

The weeping cloud mourns down on earth 
From which I drink for all my worth 
A sublimation beyond divine 
The leaden storm’s redolent wine 
The grand bouquet 
A fountain’s spray 

In the whispering meadows where raindrops meet 
my breath breathes sweeter sweet

I spread my fragrant wings and float upon fresh air 
upward as far as I may go 
To breathe again 
flying free again—and happy to be there 

I am the soul of soil and sod 
I am earth’s pluvial god

Lesley Scoble, July 2023

My thanks to d’Verse Poetics—One Word poetry prompt and to the gracious host Kim881 for the great choice of inspiring prompts.

Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright, (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.

lesleyscoble

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25 responses to “Petrichor: a fragrant poem”

  4. Oh yes, Lesley! You nailed petrichor to the sticking place and gave me much to comment on! I not only enjoyed your poem written from the point of view of petrichor, but I also love the photograph to illustrate it. The rhyme scheme and rhythm of the poem recreate the pattering of rain. I particularly like the lines:
    ‘Puddle waterspouts leap in melodic time
    Dancing a perfumed pantomime
    My fragrant breath breathes relief across parched plains
    Breathing out the sweetness of the rain’
    and
    ‘The weeping cloud mourns down on earth
    From which I drink for all my worth
    A sublimation beyond divine
    The leaden storm’s redolent wine’.

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  7. That was divine, Lesley, and you did put a smile on my face! 😊
    There’s a lot of water talk going round WP lately; break out the umbrellas! ☔️
    And now, after hearing your little tinkle, that’s exactly what I have to do! 😂 😂❣️

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. I enjoyed listening to the rainfall as I read your wonderful poem. I felt immersed in the petrichor! I really loved the last two lines. I will be thinking about the ‘soul of the soil and sod’ when out and about on a damp day.

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