Rain

Rather than the fancy teardrop shape we normally associate with raindrops, rain is round. That's because the sphere is geometry’s most efficient shape since it contains more volume for surface area than any other shape. So with their elastic nature, droplets of falling water naturally become spherical.

Not until dripping from gutters or running down windows does rain elongate into a teardrop shape. This is when rain becomes meaningful to people with poetic natures. If you're out in it, rain is just wet. But if you can be dry and look at it and maybe drink some special blend of tea, then it reminds you of tears and you can conjure up all your sad memories and believe that the whole world is crying for you.

Once when my friend Alan and I were having lunch at a little cafe downtown, the clouds thickened and went darker. As we ate rain began to fall. At first it just dotted the sidewalk out front with splotches. Then it picked pace and poured. The rain streamed down the cafe's front window like thousands of tears. Alan and I fell silent as we ate.

Soon the rain stopped and the clouds thinned and the sun shone through. Alan and I left the cafe feeling that something important had happened to us, like we had somehow changed. As we walked Alan said it was the rain. I think it was the four beers each.