Painting by John Atkinson Grimshaw‘On Rainy Nights’ by Janice Canerdy The Society August 21, 2022 Beauty, Poetry, Rondeau 14 Comments . On Rainy Nights On rainy nights, in pensive thought, I claim the respite I have sought but seldom found on sunny days. Cool drops soothe more than brightest rays in times when life’s with trouble fraught. These introspective times have brought sweet peace and comfort when I’ve fought a heated battle with malaise __on rainy nights. Sweet peace of mind cannot be caught like raindrops. Nor can it be bought with tears; but when life, like a maze, confounds me, at the flow I gaze and praise the joys by nature wrought __on rainy nights. . . Janice Canerdy is a retired high-school English teacher from Potts Camp, Mississippi. Her works have appeared in several publications, including Society of Classical Poets Journal (and online) Spirit Fire, Light, The Road Not Taken, Lyric, Parody, Bitterroot, Westward Quarterly, Lighten Up Online, Better Than Starbucks, Saturday Evening Post, Encore (journal of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies), The Mississippi Poetry Society Journal, Your Daily Poem, and LIVE (by Gospel Publishing House). Her first book, Expressions of Faith (Christian Faith Publishing), was published in December 2016. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. CODEC Stories:Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) 14 Responses Peg August 21, 2022 I enjoyed this poem very much and do so enjoy the rain, as well…thank you!! Reply Janice Canerdy August 21, 2022 Peg, I am so glad you liked my poem. Thanks so much. Janice Reply Roy E. Peterson August 21, 2022 I can identify with the respite brought by rainy nights! Reply Janice Canerdy August 21, 2022 Thanks so much, Roy. Janice Reply Paul Freeman August 21, 2022 Wow! I’ve only seen rain on a handful of days over the past few years. This poem resonates. We even get an extra rhyme – ‘praise’ – for free! May I suggest possibly changing ‘brightest rays’ to ‘UV rays’. Thanks for the read, Janice. Reply Janice Canerdy August 21, 2022 Thanks so much, Paul I’ll consider your suggestion. Janice Reply Tonia Kalouria August 21, 2022 Janice, I, too, feel the rainy days envelop and calm as opposed to the jarring sun’s rays. Lovely Reply Janice Canerdy August 21, 2022 Paul, thank you so much! I’ll consider your suggestion. Janice Reply Norma Pain August 22, 2022 I love the rain and your poem highlights the feelings I get, especially during a soft summer rain. Thank you Janice. And a beautiful painting supplied by Evan. Reply Alena Casey August 23, 2022 As another lover of rain, I think this poem captures well the feelings it relates. I especially liked the last verse. Reply Guy Warner August 23, 2022 “Cool drops soothe more than brightest rays” Very nice! Is there a premade form you are following, or is this your own design? Reply Paul Freeman August 30, 2022 It’s a rondeau, Guy. Reply Margaret Coats August 26, 2022 Janice, this is a very beautiful rondeau. The form is used to perfection, especially in the last stanza, where it seems you may be moving away from material raindrops to spiritual considerations. In fact you are, but the syntax flows smoothly back to where it started, the joys of the natural world on rainy nights. This poem goes into my collection of best rondeaux! Reply C.B. Anderson August 31, 2022 It’s funny, Janice, but I have always loved clouds, fog and rain much more than bright sunny days. The latter are a dime a dozen, but the former conditions always lead to deep reverie, whence my preference for them. Nice work. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Peg August 21, 2022 I enjoyed this poem very much and do so enjoy the rain, as well…thank you!! Reply
Paul Freeman August 21, 2022 Wow! I’ve only seen rain on a handful of days over the past few years. This poem resonates. We even get an extra rhyme – ‘praise’ – for free! May I suggest possibly changing ‘brightest rays’ to ‘UV rays’. Thanks for the read, Janice. Reply
Tonia Kalouria August 21, 2022 Janice, I, too, feel the rainy days envelop and calm as opposed to the jarring sun’s rays. Lovely Reply
Norma Pain August 22, 2022 I love the rain and your poem highlights the feelings I get, especially during a soft summer rain. Thank you Janice. And a beautiful painting supplied by Evan. Reply
Alena Casey August 23, 2022 As another lover of rain, I think this poem captures well the feelings it relates. I especially liked the last verse. Reply
Guy Warner August 23, 2022 “Cool drops soothe more than brightest rays” Very nice! Is there a premade form you are following, or is this your own design? Reply
Margaret Coats August 26, 2022 Janice, this is a very beautiful rondeau. The form is used to perfection, especially in the last stanza, where it seems you may be moving away from material raindrops to spiritual considerations. In fact you are, but the syntax flows smoothly back to where it started, the joys of the natural world on rainy nights. This poem goes into my collection of best rondeaux! Reply
C.B. Anderson August 31, 2022 It’s funny, Janice, but I have always loved clouds, fog and rain much more than bright sunny days. The latter are a dime a dozen, but the former conditions always lead to deep reverie, whence my preference for them. Nice work. Reply
