Out of a Clear Sky
Out of a clear sky red wine fell
drop by drop till it poured in sheets.
At first, rejoicing, shouts of "miracle"
flagons and barrels set out in the street
where drunken toads soon promenaded.
Next morning, though, it seemed a curse,
old women cried, "it's getting worse"
and by the pole that measures flood
the blood-red river swelled and swelled –
still from a clear sky red wine fell.
The priest and mayor begged all
to pray for clean, clear rain;
so, to the cloister, old men came
and fingered ancient rosaries
all night through till break of day.
Then, God relented, broke the spell –
and out of a clear sky white wine fell.
Chrissie Williams, September 2006