we need the rain

the man

on tv in front of his maps

tells us

that

we need the rain.

i turn it off and go to work.

but the rest

of the day

i tell people

in casual conversation

that

we need the rain.

people say it to me.

all day

i hear the phrase

we need the rain.

we look up at the sky

together,

at the cloudless

horizon.

and then it does,

at last,

come down

and you say, well we needed

the rain,

we all nod

and agree, we needed

the rain,

but now the bridge

is out.