understanding the rain

why is rain equated with sadness?
the tears that stream down my cheeks may resemble that of the droplets
but, my tears do not always fall in times of despair
tears can be powerful, their appearances are unexpected
frustration, anger, fear, joy, sensitivity, surprise
tears are simply the release of the emotion built up inside me
they allow for the flow of energy to continue
similar to the evaporation that follows the rain, my tears
will transform into a new expression of energy
such                                     as
      love                                from
others                                  and
empathy                                for
my                                            self

when tears fall from another person’s cheeks, i cannot truly ever know why
but, i can, for just a moment, remember how it felt when i let my tears fall
and remind them their tears do not mean they are weak
rather, their tears express the strength to allow their own energy to flow
in that moment, maybe i can be the sun that soaks up their energy
and turns it into something new, and in my moments,
maybe i can be my own sun

Jordan Card is a senior at SUNY ESF studying Environmental Education & Interpretation with a minor in Environmental Writing & Rhetoric. They received their qualification as a Certified Interpretive Guide in 2020 through the National Association of Interpretation. After graduating, they plan to utilize their skills to work on interpretive planning and design.