Song of the Rain

About the Poet:

Kahlil Gibran.

Kahlil Gibran. Kahlil Gibran was a Lebanese artist, poet, and

writer. He studied art and began his literary career, writing in both English and Arabic. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry. He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose.

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The poem song of the rain is about the general overview of rain formation, its beauty, importance and attributes. The poem also expresses the power behind rain and also puts rain as one of the intentional occurrences in universal processes.

Let’s Get

to the

Poem

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I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn Her fields and valleys.

Interpretation:The rain is divine. It falls from the sky

it appears to be like silver threads. It is dropped by the god.

As it drops down on the earth it spreads all over the fields

and valleys. It suggests that the rain is life giving.

I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn To embellish the gardens. 

Interpretation:The poet has compared the rain drops with pearls. The daughter of dawn, Aurora, plucks these pearls from the crown of Ishtar. She then uses rain to decorate the gardens. Thus rain is something that brings beauty.

When I cry the hills laugh; When I humble myself the flowers rejoice; When I bow, all things are elated.

Interpretation:

When the rain falls the hills become cheerful as the rain gives them

life. The word ‘cry’ here suggests that it rains heavily on hills. The

echo of the rain sounds like the laughter of the hills. The rain ‘humbles’ means that it falls moderately i.e. neither heavy

nor low. As a result the flowers feel happy. Everything that bestows

on nature seems to be happy. The rain ‘bows’ means that it falls

low and gives immense joy to everything on the earth.

The field and the cloud are lovers And between them I am a messenger of mercy. I quench the thirst of one; I cure the ailment of the other.

Interpretation:The field refers to earth and the clouds refer to the heaven. The rain as a messenger between the two and connects them as it is divine. The earth is dry, it needs water as water is an elixir of life. When it rains, the clouds burst and they are relieved. The rain from the clouds quenches the thirst of the earth.

The voice of thunder declares my arrival; The rainbow announces my departure. I am like earthly life, which begins at The feet of the mad elements and ends Under the upraised wings of death. 

Interpretation:Rainfalls accompanied by thundering and soon after the rain falls the rainbow appears in the sky as if it is informing the earth about the departure of the rain. The rain is as short lived as is the man’s life on earth. It comes and goes just as a man’s birth and death.

I emerge from the heart of the sea Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in Need, I descend and embrace the flowers and The trees in a million little ways.

Interpretation:The poet has described the rain here in a scientific way. The water evaporates from the sea sky and the water vapors accumulate in the clouds. These fall down on the earth in the form of rain droplets. Thus rain falls in millions of droplets that refreshes vegetation.

I touch gently at the windows with my Soft fingers, and my announcement is aWelcome song. All can hear, but only The sensitive can understand

Interpretation:The rain falls gently and its sound is a proclamation of its arrival on the earth. At the same time its sound echoes which makes the rain feel that it is being welcomed. Every one hears the sound of rain but those who are sensitive really recognize its significance.

I am the sigh of the sea; The laughter of the field; 

The tears of heaven.

Interpretation:The water evaporating from the sea has been referred as the sigh of the sea. When the rain falls on the earth it spreads joy as it is a blessing particularly for the farmers in the field. So the laughter is referred to happiness due to rain. The rain drops falling on the earth are referred as tears of the sky as they fall from the sky.

So with love - Sighs from the deep sea of affection;Laughter from the colourful field of spirit;Tears from the endless heaven of memories.

Interpretation:The poet highlights qualities of the rain. The rain is the sigh of the sea when the water vapours rise from the sea into the sky. It spreads the laughter through the colourful fields.The rain drops fall like tears from the heaven to the earth and give new life to it.

The END

By Neetha Joseph