Umbriferous

Today's word is "umbriferous" ... Casting or making shade.

Weathered
When little rainstorms come, you run,
seeking shelter where you can. Even though
in all your life, water on your skin did nothing
but wash you clean.

In the summer sun, you hide, looking for
a tree umbriferous, or wait for a cloud
to come between you and that light
so bright it makes you squint.

It seems that a little bit too much
of this or that throws us off ...
causes us to reach for balance,
a handhold, something, someone
we can count on.

This is our dilemma, to
hold our arms out in hopes we
won't fall from the edge, or
step out in confidence, knowing
there is a hand that holds us ...
even when we see nothing
but the sky.

Anne Selleck
Copyright 2013