The rain moves in, devouring the view.

An obliterating screen of white wetness

moves stealthily over the countryside,

leaching colour as it goes,

hiding first the distant hills,

then the middle lowland

until finally it lashes home.

The front passes over

to reveal a clear dividing line:

an arch across the sky

between storm and fair weather,

dark storm clouds to one side,

clear blue, cloudless sky to the other.

Sunshine after rain -

light painting in all the colour once more

on the patchwork quilt of fields

trimmed with the rounded Cheviots.