A Rainbow

Someone asked me the other day what a rainbow is, what it meant to me. I smiled when she asked, pondering her question, rolling it around in my mind a few moments searching to provide the answer. I replied something to the effect that to me a rainbow means all that is beautfiul, clear and wonderously peaceful. Generated from natural elements a rainbow occurs only under special conditions, neither manufactured nor contrived.

I have seen rainbows while sitting on a rock ledge near a waterfall where the rising mists float into the sunlight, dance together and say hello to each other. At other times darkening clouds slowly walk across the prairie sky. Then the leaves of the trees turn over before the storm as if to protect themselves, the winds rising until suddenly stopping as the smell and wetness of the clouds breathe begins. Lasting only momentarily the sun returns and for a few seconds both rain and sun put their arms around each other, smile and release a rainbow as if they knew we were watching them kiss each other.

At this time I am wondering if one has to actually see a rainbow to experience its beauty.....afterall they only occur under certain conditions. Perhaps the real rainbows occur during the periods between the times we actually see them....when we do as we do and are as we are....maybe that is what rainbows are all about...the real ones appearing only when needed to remind us.