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4. Introduct
ion:
Song of
the
rain

5. This autobiographical
poem not only brings
out the birth and death
of rain but also
highlights its
characteristics.
Introduct
ion: a
A profuse use of
literary devices
enhances the poem‟s
Beauty and lends it
divine touch
Song of
the
rain
“songs of the rain” has
got a unique grace,
elegancy and delicacy
About itself.

6. Song of
the
rain

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

8. • The rain is divine.
• It falls from the sky it appears to be like
silver threads.
• It calls itself silver threads as it connects
heaven and earth.
• 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.

9. 
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



Who sends rain to earth and from where?
the gods send rain to earth from the heaven above
How does nature make use of the rain?
nature takes rain to beautify her fields and valleys
which literacy device has the poet used in the second
line of the stanza?
in the second line, making use of personification, the
poet has personified the nature.

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

11. • The rain says that it drops down early in the Morning
like a pearl. The poet has compared the rain drops
with the pearl.
• The Babylonian mother goddess wears the crown
studded with pearls.
• The rain drops falling makes the poet feel as if the
nature has plucked pearls from the crown to decorate
the earth.
• The Babylonian mother goddess is the queen of
heaven and goddess of love.
• Thus rain beautifies the earth.

12. • Who is the speaker in the above lines?
 rains is the speaker in the above line
• What is being referred to as ‘pearls’ in the above
lines?
 raindrops which look delicate and sparkling have
been referred to as pearl
• Which literacy device is used in ‘daughter of
Dawn’?
 alliteration, also daughter of dawn has been
treated as a person and given a human
relationship. Thus there is personification
• Who is ishtar?
 ‘ishtar’ is the goddess of love and war.

13. When I cry the hills laugh;
When I humble myself the
flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are
elated. (to elevate)

14. • When the rain falls the hills are cheerful because the
rain gives 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 rain is
the source of rejuvenation and renewal.

15. • What does „when I cry‟ means?
 „when I cry‟ means when the rain falls heavily
• Why do hills laugh when „I‟ cries?
 when „I‟ cries, that is when rainfalls In torrents it
is very noisy. When its sound echoes in the hills
the seems to be laughing. Moreover it seems that
hills are happy.
• What sort of atmosphere is brought about when „I‟
cries?
 There is a atmosphere of joy and happiness all
over when „I‟ cry, „humble‟ and „bows‟ itself. That
is when rainfalls all its humidity and grace, all
hearts are gladdened.

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

17. • The field and clouds have been called lover
because fields love clouds bringing rain to them for
their survival.
•The field wait for the rain like lovers. The rain is
like a messenger of kindness between the two
fields and cloud.
•If the clouds do not have rain water in them
the fields do not get the message of
kindness and relief. Rain satisfies the thirst
of the field.
•Clouds without rain would be suffering and
incomplete so rain cures and remove its
sick suffering by being on the cloud

18. • Which two objects have been personified in the first line?
Field and cloud
• What attributes of self are highlighted by „I‟ in the stanza?
„I‟ brings out its sense of compassion, understanding and mercy
• In the third and fourth line who is „one‟ and who is the „other‟?
„one‟ stands for the thirsty field and the „other‟ stands for the
heavily vapour landen clouds
• How is the rain a “messenger of mercy” for the “lover”?
Rain is the “messenger of mercy” as it quenches the thirst of the
fields by watering them and cures the ailment of the clouds by
releasing droplet from heavily vapour laden clouds

19. 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 (lifted) wings of death.

20. • The rain falls accompanied by thundering. Its
sound appears as if it announces the arrival of
rain.
• Soon after the rain falls the beautiful 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 the man is born and he
dies.
• Both the rain and the earthly life are similar as
both of them are born out of elements of nature
and they both meet their death.

21.  What announces ‘my’ arrival?
 Clouds echoing the sky with the sound of thunder announces ‘my’
arrival
• What announces the departure of rain?
 A rainbow announces the departure of the rain
• Why has the poet used the word ‘voice’ rather than ‘noise’ for the
thundering of clouds?
 The poet has personified the clouds. The usage ‘voice’ rather then
‘noise’ brings the clouds closer to the living objects rather than the
non-living.
• Quote the line where the poet has used onomatopoeia?
 “The voice of thunder declares my arrival.” ‘Thunder’ is an
onomatopoeic word

22. I emerge from the heart of the sea
Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in
Need, I descend and embrace
(hold tightly in ones arm) the flowers and
The trees in a million little ways.

23. • The poet has described the rain here in a scientific way.
• The water evaporates from the sea to the great
heights of the 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 , It falls in different
forms i.e.. snow, hail etc. It refreshes the trees, adds to
more the plants, helps in their healthy growth and
waters them.

24. • What meant by „a field in need‟?
 „A field in need‟ means a field badly in need of
being watered
• Explain “embrace the flowers and the tree in a
million little ways”.
 As numerous raindrops trickle down the flowers
and trees, the poet imagines them to be washing
them in a million little ways
• How does the stanza cover I‟s entire life-cycle?
 The stanza begins with the rain emerging from
the womb of the sea. It is then taken high up by
the winds. Last of all it drops down in the field and
thus, its life-cycle is completed

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

26. • 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. They
understand how important rain is for
earth.

27. •
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•

•

Why does „I‟ touches the window panes softly?
Since „I‟, that is, rain falls in the form of water drops, it
strikes the window panes and flows down. No jarring noise
is created in the process. Hence it „touches‟ the window
panes gently
How is I‟s arrival taken by everyone
I‟s arrival brings joy to every heart. Hence it is welcomed by
one and all.
Why can „all hear‟ I‟s arrival?
Though gentle, but the sound created by the fall of the rain
is loud enough for everyone to hear. Thus it is audible to
everyone.

28. I am the sigh of the sea;
The laughter of the field;
The tears of heaven.

29. • 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.

30. • Why does „I‟ call itself „sigh of the sea‟?
As rain rises as vapor from the sea, it creates as though
the sea is breathing heavily and slinging. Hence, it
calls itself „sigh of the sea‟
• Why does „I‟ call itself the „laughter of the field‟?
„I‟ calls it self the laughter of the field because it
refreshes the field and make them happy
• What does „tears of heaven‟ refer to?
“tears of heaven” refer to rain drops that fall from the
sky and look like tear drops

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

32. • 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. It
means the freshness in restored due to the rain.
• The crops which are the spirit of the field flourish. Therefore
the fields appear to the poet as if they are laughing.
• The rain drops fall like tears from the heaven to the earth
and give new life to it.
•
The rain bridges a link between the earth and heaven.

33. • What emotion of rain is depicted in the above stanza?
 The above depicts the rain’s love for the earth.
• What does the rain offers from the “colorful field of
the spirit”?
 The rains offers laughter and joy
• What does the rain brings out from he store house of
sweet memories?
 The rain brings out delightful recollections from the
storehouse of sweet memories