Rain teases, trickles,
more sweat than shower
air thick and smothering
sits on my chest.
I exhale in puffs
willing chest to rise
begrudging this outing
Cardinal whistles
happy scales, while
somber sky squeezes
a single droplet
kisses my skin
and then explodes
pellet-like missiles
of water soaking
clothes cling
as a river traces
contours of face
body melting
into flow
and through it all
cardinal sings
a laughing melody.