Jack Haven

"Rainfall in Winter"

Rainfall dripping from the ceiling—tin tin!
Just a pan underfoot, holding water past the brim.
But you don't do nothing till the ceiling caves in.

Twelve days of pouring rain and the sky's still grim.
No sun, no light, no star in sight, just one thick grey cloud skin.
And rainfall dripping from the ceiling—tin tin!

Friday night the roof first ripped and a few cold drops fell in.
I put out cups and pans and bucket shams to hold the water in,
But you don't do nothing till the ceiling caves in.

I saw the small wet tear and tried to lift your chin
To show you where and why the roof would soon give in.
As rainfall kept dripping from the ceiling—tin tin!

But away you'd gone while I went on and tried to patch within,
With tape and glue and plaster too through the sloshing din.
And you don't do nothing till the ceiling caves in.

You woke to the raindrops with a sense of chagrin,
And to me, soaked and dirty, a vengeful visage with a grin.
Rainfall dripped from the ceiling—tin tin!
And you didn't do nothing till the ceiling caved in.