We live in the City of London, in a flat that’s almost entirely glass. On the balcony we’re growing orange trees and tomato plants, both thriving in the heat. We saved struggling tadpoles from a parched pond in our local wildlife garden and managed to return them as froglets during our one and only day of rain in early June. Not a single drop of rain has fallen since then.
In July, temperatures climbed above 34°C for fourteen consecutive days, with 37°C recorded at Kew Gardens. A severe drought was declared.
My poem Lovely Grey and the song Rattle My Rain Stick were inspired by that hot-as-Hades spell.
it hasn’t rained here
for weeks
no rain in gutters
no drips in drainpipes
no leaks
skies in london town
were once a lovely grey
like pigeon down
does it seem the same
to you
that now they stay
a constant hue
a blazing bright
azure blue
if i believed in a god
i’d offer a prayer
to him it or her
O mighty power
do your thing
dampen
earth’s dried up sod
and send us
grey clouds
raining
day after day
above thirty degrees
i yearn
for an arctic freeze
i don’t want to whine
but this is enough
sunshine
i’ve rattled my
rain stick
and performed a ritual dance
O mighty force
if there’s a chance
you’ll send us rain
then i’ll rattle my
rain stick
and dance
again
—Lesley Scoble, July 2026
Here are two audio versions of Lovely Grey — a spoken-word narration by yours truly, and a musical interpretation that took the poem in such an unexpected direction that I gave it a new title: Rattle My Rainstick.
Audio — Lovely Grey — spoken word
Narrated by me
Audio — Rattle My Rain Stick — song 🎶
A musical interpretation based on the poem Lovely Grey.
Thank you for stopping by — I appreciate your visit.
LesleyScoble.com 
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