carry an umbrella, this onam

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

this poem by william carlos williams (1883 - 1963) had hit me like an explosion when i read it first many years ago. i had come back to it again and again mesmerised by the simple scene he paints,  sparkling in significance...

this poem was singing in my mind when i finished my study of the meteorological conditions today for writing a story for my paper.

the following is the story:

So much depends upon an upper air cyclonic circulation, hovering over the head bay, off the Odisha coast, on Thursday.

In Kerala, far away, they are all in the excitement of Onam, their annual festival. The Thiruvonam Day, the main day of the festival, falls on Sunday, September 7. From all parts of the world Keralites are on their way home. It is the day of their coming together.

Will it rain on Sunday, as it had rained these past few days; or will it be the fine Onam weather one remembers of yore?...

So much depends on the cyclonic circulation over the bay, glazed with the threat of rain for Kerala, which might come in the heavy rainfall belt of a low pressure system it may develop into.

With more confidence than the previous day, India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said the cyclonic circulation over the bay ‘would’ develop into a low pressure system within a day’s time.

Such a weather system would speed up the flow of rain-heavy south-westerly winds over Kerala,  setting the monsoon into another bout of activity over the State.

The meteorology centre on Thursday said rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places in the State till September 6 (which is the Onam eve, the Uthradam Day). The term ‘few’, in the IMD’s language, stands for ‘up to 50 per cent of the geographical area, or rain-gauge stations’.

The developments over the Bay of Bengal by Friday might hold the key for what it would be like in Kerala on Sunday, the Thiruonam Day.

Remember: carry an umbrella.

*****