Winter Rain in California

We Said No to the Snow

David A. Reinstein, LCSW
We can't build rain men
Or throw rain balls
At each other.
The kids don't need mittens
Or scarves knitted
By their mothers.
But when it's over
It's over
No shovels required
When the precipitation has
Ceased
No plows need be hired.

No white on Christmas,
It seemed rather strange
For a good many years
To get accustomed
To the change.
Having grown up
Where snow was
Part of the season,
Living out here
Challenged our learned
Sense of reason.

Santa riding in the sunshine
With sleigh runners on asphalt,
Reindeer hooves on the roads
That had never felt rock salt.
But trees were alight
As are homes on the streets,
I guess Santa
Does not require snow flakes
To get to the milk and cookies
He greets.

Christmas need not be white,
Bing Crosby notwithstanding,
Wet and cool
Can do the job
There is no real change
In the spirit
Or the branding.

So in a plastic poncho he arrives
On those slippery roofs,
And just because he's in
California,
He doesn't just goof.
He knows his job well
And is undeterred by the rain
Or the heat, or the snow,
We can count on him
Wherever we live
Again and again.

Published by David A. Reinstein, LCSW - Featured Contributor in Technology

Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, born in Boston and a relatively unscathed survivor of the 60 s. Fan of technology, guitars, creating music and poetry. Mental wellness coach, staff trainer and parent...  View profile

69 Comments

Post a Comment
  • Mary Beth Magee1/13/2012

    Oh, David, I laughed so hard at this! Growing up in New Orleans, I wished for white Christmas every year. Then I moved to Chicago and got them and wished I didn't have them. Now I'm out hear in NoCal and very content to have the seasons without the snow! Great job!

  • addie protivnak1/11/2012

    Santa visits me on a surf board. Great poem

  • Bridget Ilene Delaney1/5/2012

    In South Louisiana, we don't get snow, either. We're lucky if the rain is even on a nice day. It's usually gray and depressing. However, Santa in pirogue being pulled by alligators is always an awesome sight!

  • Jack Wellman1/3/2012

    I do believe, I do believe, I do believe....I believer I'll have another beer! LOL Happy New Year bro.

  • Teila Tankersley12/30/2011

    Have a Happy New Year!

  • R. Salley12/27/2011

    SMILING as I think of a California Christmas!

  • Teila Tankersley12/24/2011

    Merry Christmas!!! Loved your article on The Effects of Alcohol on a Teenager’s Brain.

  • Lisa R. Strong3/27/2011

    Your fine poem answers a question that I have often been curious about. I always wondered what it would be like to spend Christmas in a warmer climate...I think that I would definitely enjoy it.

  • sad3/25/2011

    document.writeln("Our online shop, <a href=\"http://www.soozone.com/\">soozone.com</a> ,sells all brands of products, such as Versace,Oakley,Lacoste, Armani , Diesel and so on. We sincerely provide various cheap and high quality products in online shops. Welcome to and have a look! Specially, this season We introduced many high quality <a href=\"http://www.soozone.com/\">Versace boot</a> and <a href=\"http://www.soozone.com/\">cheap Oakley sunglasses</a>. <a href=\"http://www.soozone.com/\">Versace boot</a> has Various sample color and various styles, you bound to select a pair your favorite boot. If you buy more, the price would be even cheaper.
    ");
    document.writeln(" Attention everybody! There are many <a href=\"http://www.soozone.com/\">cheap sunglasses</a>, especially Oakley sunglasses. Oakley sunglasses

  • Eiddwen Jones3/23/2011

    A great poem and thanks for sharing.
    Take care
    Eiddwen.

Displaying Comments
Next »

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.