Soft, Soft Rain

Soft, soft rain began to fall. Tip. Tip. Tip.

It fell on the roof. Tip, tip, tip. The roof kept the house dry.

It fell on the big leaves of the banana plant. Pat, pat, pat. The leaves bent a little and let the water slide away.

It fell on the pond. Plink, plink, plink. Small circles grew on the water, and the frogs sat still to watch.

It fell on the back of the buffalo. The buffalo did not mind. She closed her eyes. The rain was cool and kind.

It fell on the road. The dust lay down and went to sleep. The road smelled sweet, the way the earth smells after the first rain.

Inside the house, a child lay in bed and listened.

Tip, tip, tip on the roof. Pat, pat, pat on the leaves. Plink, plink, plink on the pond.

The rain was not in a hurry. The rain had all night.

The child's eyes grew heavy. Tip. Tip.

The child's breath grew slow. Tip.

The soft, soft rain fell on and on, and nobody was awake to hear it.