Heaven’s waters gathered,
And moving gases alone,
Incite memories and emotions
Whose range cannot be known.
By some is felt elation;
Others fear the furies
The stratospheres release,
But few revere the beauty
In a single drop it seems,
Though they fall in millions –
Each soaking, cleansing one –
Fanned on by ocean breezes . . . .

Ah! the memories stirred:
Both those remembered and not.
Another breed of spirit
Whose reverie lay
In other than the beauty:
Theirs was and still remains
The hopeless challenge
To conquer nature’s art,
More for self-esteem
Than to be an intrinsic part
Of her perfect beauty.

Now would they but learn
To put the self aside,
And recognize the radiant
Beauty in all around,
Then always they’d be joyous,
Not only as ’tis now –
Whenever they feel they’ve conquered
The highest, fastest or longest.

But no matter what they claim,
Always,
One better remains.