The Voice of the Rain
by Walt Whitman
Rapid Learn 2-Minute Revision
Perfect for last-minute revision
2-Minute Revision Video
Video coming soon
In this lyric the poet asks the soft-falling rain who it is, and, remarkably, the rain answers. The rain calls itself 'the Poem of Earth'. It explains its endless cycle: it rises unseen and intangible from the land and the bottomless sea up into the sky, where it changes form, gathers into clouds, and then falls back to the earth as rain to wash the droughts, the dust and the parched fields. It gives life to seeds that would otherwise remain unborn, and it returns to its place of origin, pure and beautified, whether fully understood or not. The poet then draws a beautiful comparison: the cycle of the rain is like the 'song' or poem of a poet, which arises from its source (the poet's heart), goes forth into the world, and, whether recognised or not, eventually returns with love to its origin. Thus rain and poetry both are life-giving gifts that complete a cycle of giving and returning.
Detailed Summary
Detailed Summary Video
Video coming soon
The poet questions the rain
The poet asks the soft-falling shower who it is. Strangely and beautifully, the rain replies, and the poet translates its answer. The rain identifies itself as 'the Poem of Earth', giving voice to something usually silent and thereby making the natural world speak.
The eternal cycle of the rain
The rain describes its unending cycle. It rises, impalpable (untouchable) and unseen, out of the land and the bottomless sea up into the sky, where it vaguely forms and changes, yet remains the same in essence. From there it descends again to wash the droughts, the dust-layers and the parched earth, giving life to seeds that would otherwise lie unborn and latent. Thus it constantly gives life and beauty to its own origin, whether or not anyone takes note.
Rain compared to a song
The poet adds a reflective comment comparing the rain's cycle to that of a song or poem. A poet's song, too, issues forth from its source (the poet's heart), travels out into the world, and, fulfilled or unfulfilled, understood or not, returns in due time with love to its place of origin. Both rain and poetry are life-giving, and both complete a cycle of giving and returning.