It rained last night

Im sitting on the back steps

brushing my teeth

the ground is damp

the sky is silver, a hazy blue

crickets are screeching

a rooster is crowing

I can see him

golden white

with a black tail

a chicken is pecking

crows are complaining

our neighbor is hobbling back

to his house

with a round plastic well bucket

in each hand

the air smells fresh

like moist dry grass

of rain

of morning light

the hard step is cool

and I want to sit more

but my mouth

is full of toothpaste.