Dry country

Myth is the public dream, and dream is the private myth. - Joseph Campbell

Living With Drought

Skin cracks. Soil cracks. Dry maize crackles in the hot breeze. City folks and country folks alike talk about the weather. People watch the heavens or TV weather and opine about the future. We remember how much behind we are in the average amount of rainfall.

City folks wonder about water rationing, water rates and what to do about the yard. Country folks wonder about the livestock, the loans and the crops. Leaders wonder about available water resources because they can do nothing to make the rains come.

When rain comes folks stand outside and look towards the sky. We wonder how long the storm will last and when another will come. We remark about how good the air smells, and how the plants drink in the dropletts. Amounts need to be reported, dogs need umbrella service, kids need to play in the mud, cars need antilock brakes, and schedules need to be changed.

In the meantime we wait and look up.

Tags: drought weather rainfall

My "topical post" today at South by Southwest is about democracy emerging in the Middle East.