Midwinter Rain   Midwinter rain — it’s just wrong, it’s not fair somehow, nobody’s idea of natural, nobody’s notion of how Brattleboro should be. Nature couldn’t care less what we want, but wanting’s what we do. Just last week winter got it right — the woods were postcard lovely under fresh snow. Shouldn’t we be satisfied? We were! But who needs this? Midwinter rain’s a promise broken, crows and mud and aching joints — this isn’t meant for us. What next — fog, blackflies, drizzle? Locusts, maybe? Frogs? Is this some kind of joke?     © Michael Fleming Williamsville, Vermont January 2013