Poet Michael Schmeltzer on the sensual delights of rainy days

April 26, 2023 / 7:03 am

Each day during the month of April, KUOW is highlighting the work of Seattle-based poets for National Poetry Month. In this series curated by Seattle Civic Poet and Ten Thousand Things host Shin Yu Pai, you'll find a selection of poems for the mind, heart, senses, and soul.

In "Under the Umbrella...", poet Michael Schmeltzer considers the sensual delights of rain, its scents and sonic textures that enliven our environment and senses.

Michael Schmeltzer is a biracial author originally from Japan. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Floating Bridge Press. His poetry book "Empire of Surrender" is the winner of the 2021 Wandering Aengus Book Award. Along with Meghan McClure, he is the co-author of the nonfiction book "A Single Throat Opens", a lyric exploration of addiction and family. His debut full-length "Blood Song" was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award in Poetry, the Julie Suk Award, and the Coil Book Award.

Under the Umbrella, Here in This Heavy Rain

Drop by drop we let go of
every petty annoyance

(the scatter of sunflower
seeds on the carpet,

cups of milk unrinsed,
left to stink in the sink.)

Still there’s love
but no heat, no lick

to the square stamp
of my face. You send me

off into this weather
to fetch avocados.

Let me throw
the heaviest stone

into the deepest pit.
Be witness to wetness:

under the umbrella, here
where the water frolics,

all around
the ruckus of rain.

Oh love, come with me.
Smell again

the torrent
in the middle of a forest. Or

kiss me between buildings

until even the city, embarrassed,
covers up its eyes with plywood,

until I forget to hold
the bumbershoot up.

Puddle me as if you’re part
rain boot, waterproof,

and I’ll do
what puddles do best;

I’ll collect. I’ll separate.
I’ll return to you

whole again.

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Shin Yu Pai
Host, Ten Thousand Things

Shin Yu Pai is the current Civic Poet for The City of Seattle (2023-24) and host of KUOW's podcast Ten Thousand Things (formerly The Blue Suit). She is an award-winning writer and visual artist based in Seattle.
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