The Language of Rain
Rain keeps plunging
in its sun stealing shapes
as grey shadows
take away the depth
of my sky blue.
Foggy messes
blanket me
in moist quiet.
Here,
noise is disguised
by languishing water drops
everything disappearing
into a satin sheet of weather
covering minds in introspection
and at home desires
fall into place.
That air,
heavenly air
carries my desire
to be in it
all the time
no indoor tomb for me.
I wish the rain
to never stop
and perpetually bring
these crazy July winds
always wet
through my ever-open windows.
Thunder comes
on the heels of water
asking me to pay attention
waking me
to outside fragrances
reminding me where I was born.
As a resident of this earth
I know
it is raining for me
because I have been dry
for too long.
(This poem will appear in a posthumous collection of poetry to be published in 2022)
Janavi Held (1965-2018) was a soulful dancer, artist, poet, photographer and yogini that was suddenly struck with an incurable illness in her forties, and spent the last five years of her life bedridden, writing poems. During that time, Janavi published her first poetry collection Letters to my Oldest Friend: A Book of Poetry and Photography, and had two of her poems shortlisted for the prestigious Hamilton House International Poetry Prize awarded by the University Centre Grimsby, and published in their anthology "Eternal". Janavi also contributed poems to two poetry anthologies, Bhakti Blossoms: A Collection of Contemporary Vaishnavi Poetry and GODDESS: When She Rules: Expressions by Contemporary Women. After a carefree childhood of writing poetry and wandering around with her father’s camera, Janavi dedicated herself to practicing Bhakti Yoga at age nineteen.She held a bachelor’s degree from Goddard College where she studied poetry, photography, and media studies. Janavi passed away peacefully in December of 2018 after having battled a brutal illness. She left behind over 4,000 poems, some of which are being curated into a posthumous publication to be published with Golden Dragonfly Press. You may read more of her poems and view her artwork on her website here and Facebook page here.
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