Here in North America and in parts of the UK and beyond, many of us are sweltering under heat waves. I have been preparing a post with safety tips for surviving the heat, tips for things we can cook (if we even feel interested in eating) during this hot weather, and yet that post keeps forming and waiting in the Drafts area. My intuition is calling me to share this treasure that has meant so much to me through the years, and perhaps again this is an example of how poetry helps. If this story can bring entertainment, relief, and maybe even hope to one visitor here, it is worth it! Here is a story, about a story.
When my two boys were very young, the only TV-time was either a few choice children’s movies we played over and again, and certain programs on PBS. I miss Bill Nye The Science Guy and would’ve watched his show to this day, but a main favorite for all three of us was Reading Rainbow. Hosted by LeVar Burton, it featured famous people reading wonderful children’s books and truly bringing them to life. One day the episode was so special I was glued to the TV even more than my sons, who played quietly nearby with toys. This incredible story with gorgeous imagery and hypnotic poetry was narrated by the gloriously deep and melodious voice of none other than James Earl Jones.
Back then I didn’t have a VCR and had no way to tape that episode. However it haunted me in a most wonderful way. I tried my best to memorize parts of it, and recited them over and over for the next while. I suppose it’s not surprising really, that only a couple of weeks later during a visit to a favorite second-hand bookstore, I discovered this gem in the children’s section. I promptly memorized it and it became a favorite for my boys to request hearing. I still have that treasured book, along with several other cherished children’s books, waiting to share with grandchildren in my future, if I may be so lucky.
I wish to share this treasure with you today. If you have heard of it, I hope you enjoy this reminder and trip down memory lane. If this story is new to you, I truly hope you will enjoy. The YouTube video of the story being read by Mr. Jones is nothing short of spectacular, in my humble opinion, but please view to see (and hear!) for yourself.
Also included here are the words I’ve written out and a link to a PDF version to view the full book on your computer. And, because I like to include info for everyone, here is the link to view this book on Amazon.com as well as the ISBN info. May this story bring you joy, and hope of relief from heat waves.
Bringing The Rain To Kapiti Plain
Retold by Verna Aardema with Artwork by Beatriz Vidal
Publisher: Puffin (May 20, 1992)
ISBN-10: 0140546162
ISBN-13: 978-0140546163
View it here on Amazon.com ~ View it here in a complete pdf file
View it on YouTube (Highly recommended! 6 minutes that you have to witness and experience to fully understand its power and beauty)
This is the great Kapiti Plain,
All fresh and green from the African rains ~
A sea of grass for the ground birds to nest in,
And patches of shade for wild creatures to rest in;
With acacia trees for giraffes to browse on,
And grass for the herdsmen to pasture their cows on.
But one year the rains were so very belated
That all the big wild creatures migrated.
Then Ki-apt helped to end that terrible drought ~
And this story tells how it all came about!
This is the cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
This is the grass, all brown and dead, That needed the rain from the cloud overhead – The big, black cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
These are the cows, all hungry and dry, Who mooed for the rain to fall from the sky; To green up the grass, all brown and dead, That needed the rain from the cloud overhead – The big, black cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
This is Ki-pat, who watched his herd As he stood on one leg, like a big stork bird; Ki-pat whose cows were so hungry and dry, They mooed for the rain to fall from the sky; To green-up the grass, all brown and dead, That needed the rain from the cloud overhead – The big, black cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
This is the eagle who dropped a feather, A feather that helped to change the weather. It fell near Ki-pat, who watched his herd As he stood on one leg, like a big stork bird; Ki-pat whose cows were so hungry and dry, They mooed for the rain to fall from the sky; To green-up the grass, all brown and dead, That needed the rain from the cloud overhead – The big, black cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
This is the arrow Ki-pat put together, With a slender stick and an eagle feather; From the eagle who happened to drop a feather, A feather that helped change the weather.
It fell near Ki-pat, who watched his herd As he stood on one leg, like a big stork bird; Ki-pat whose cows were so hungry and dry, They mooed for the rain to fall from the sky; To green-up the grass, all brown and dead, That needed the rain from the cloud overhead – The big, black cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
This is the bow, so long and strong, And strung with a string, a leather thong; A bow for the arrow Ki-pat put together With a slender stick and an eagle feather; From the eagle who happened to drop a feather, A feather that helped change the weather.
It fell near Ki-pat, who watched his herd As he stood on one leg, like a big stork bird; Ki-pat whose cows were so hungry and dry, They mooed for the rain to fall from the sky; To green-up the grass, all brown and dead, That needed the rain from the cloud overhead – The big, black cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
This was the shot that pierced the cloud And loosed the rain with thunder LOUD! A shot from the bow so long and strong And strung with a string, a leather thong; A bow for the arrow Ki-pat put together With a slender stick and an eagle feather; From the eagle who happened to drop a feather, A feather that helped change the weather.
It fell near Ki-pat, who watched his herd As he stood on one leg, like a big stork bird; Ki-pat whose cows were so hungry and dry, They mooed for the rain to fall from the sky; To green-up the grass, all brown and dead, That needed the rain from the cloud overhead – The big, black cloud, all heavy with rain, That shadowed the ground on Kapiti Plain.
So the grass grew green, and the cattle fat! And Ki-pat got a wife and a little Ki-pat – Who tends the cows now, and shoots down the rain, When black clouds shadow Kapiti plain.
