Virga

Rain, especially from desert thunderstorms, which evaporates before ever reaching the ground

Gusty winds and far-off thunder

Drops which never quite strike this ground

Darkened the skies and it grew cooler

But the shower dried before it reached us

Struck out with all those good intentions

Mixed with the dust during my descent

Tumbled thru these wondrous skies

But never got to soak the earth

Held a promise to quench deep thirst

But could not even wet our lips

Brought us hopes of good moist soil

Yet only stirred the hopeless dust

Like some preacher or petty politician

assurance fading with the music

So deceivingly cool and dark and wet

Unreal as that lake mirage on desert road

A welcome sight for burning eyes

Left us wet, but with merest sweat

Blown out by unforgiving winds

Evaporate just beneath their thunderheads

So very appealing to the desiccated

So cruelly deceiving to the hopeful

Such wondrous promise at a distance

Dissolving into simple salt and disappointment