Soft, warm, gentle, long-lasting,

First rain of Spring, soaking, softening the

Hard and cracked soil as 

Earth takes a long, slow, deep

Drink and her flowers, grasses,

Bushes and trees absorb water and minerals.

Life. Soon, leaves, buds, flowers, fruit.

So comes the good spirit.

Blasting wind, icy torrents slicing, biting,

Snapping weighed down branches.

Shingles fly, villages lose power,

Topsoil washes away as

Creek banks cave in and 

Basements flood.

Death. Destruction, chill, ruin.

So comes the evil spirit.