Rain (1959-60)

THE rainbow's glorious rays of colour streaked across the heavens like a barrier. The rain seemed to be hypnotised by its strange beauty; then suddenly it vanished.

The rain still gushed down, forming numerous torrents and whirlpools in the gutter. Large oak leaves, torn from their rest, were swept along, swaying and banging against the kerb stones. It seemed as if they were little Roman galleys, tossing and heaving on the tempestuous seas. When one of these leaves whirled by, a small mundane beetle toppled into the heaving torrent. Another little life had been lost.

Once the water in the gutter reached the drain, it cascaded down into the darkness, as into the bowels of the earth. Large piles of debris, litter and leaves had formed a dam at one side of the drain. While the rain increased in fury, the level of the water gradually rose, until the little construction was swept away with one mighty rush.

The raindrops were now falling like stones out of the sky. They assumed such hideous speed and strength that their clatter and banging were to be heard coming from many directions.

The ashen sky, looking rather like a pitiful, young, sick child, showed no sign of remorse as it wrought this unholy damage down here on earth.

The heavens gradually began to darken, for evening was fast approaching, and, as still the rain continued, the sun disappeared, leaving nothing but a black, wet wilderness.

R. P. ALLEN, VD.