Soft drops fall out of the sky, like manna from heaven. Plip. Plink. Plop. The streets, glazed with water, lay bereft of vehicles and noise. The runner gazes down at his reflection matching pace, stride for stride, in the glassy road. He looks back up, taking in the entirety of his surroundings. The foreboding gray sky stands resolute, a monochromatic backdrop to the bursting blooms of pink and white erupting from flowering trees. Lawns of long-dormant grass explode in vivid hues of green, carpets of sod nurtured by the life-giving rain. Children traipse through puddles, spinning umbrellas in mesmerizing kaleidoscopes of color. The scent of rain looms heavy in the air. The runner inhales a deep breath, feels the air in his nostrils, and breaks into a grin, running a hand through his soaking hair. It is a Tuesday in April. The birds are singing and the rain is cool against the skin. The runner silently thanks whatever deity is out there for the blissful joy of being able to run on a Tuesday in April.
Artist Statement This piece was inspired by a run I went on in April, when it was rainy and beautiful.