Song of the
Rain – Kahlil Gibran
Theme
Khalil Gibran glorifies rain as the most needed natural happening
without which nothing is possible. Rain is wonderful! It rises in India and
falls down in Pakistan! How well does nature know that love has no limits!
Florida’s water rises and goes to Japan as a cloud and water the trees there.
Wonderful. Well, what this poem says is somewhat this fact. Can you imagine
that the dry field and the clouds are two lovers? Can you imagine what would
happen to the seeds buried under the earth if there is no rain to fall down in
summers?
Important Stanzas
I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn
Her fields and valleys.
I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven
By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn
Her fields and valleys.
1. Why does the rain call itself ‘dotted silver threads?
When rain drops fall one apart from the other, in a line of succession, brightened by the sunlight, it appears like dotted silver threads.
When rain drops fall one apart from the other, in a line of succession, brightened by the sunlight, it appears like dotted silver threads.
2. What for does Nature take the rain once it falls from the heaven?
Once rain fell, Nature takes it to beautify its fields and valleys.
Once rain fell, Nature takes it to beautify its fields and valleys.
I am beautiful pearls, plucked from
the
Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn
To embellish the gardens.
Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn
To embellish the gardens.
1. How is the rain beautiful pearls?
Water droplets, when they fall down to the earth from clouds, are pearly round and pearly white in the sun shine.
Water droplets, when they fall down to the earth from clouds, are pearly round and pearly white in the sun shine.
2. Who is Ishtar? What is the significance of Ishtar in the poem?
Ishtar is the goddess of fertility. Ishtar is significant in the poem because rain helps the Nature to add its fertility.
Ishtar is the goddess of fertility. Ishtar is significant in the poem because rain helps the Nature to add its fertility.
3. Who plucks the pearly rain from the crown of Ishtar?
It is the daughter of Dawn that plucks the pearly rain from the crown of Ishtar.
It is the daughter of Dawn that plucks the pearly rain from the crown of Ishtar.
In Greek Mythology
Eos is the Goddess of Dawn and her children are Anemoi, meaning winds. It is
most likely that Gibran conveys the power of the winds in creating rain by
scattering water from clouds.
When I cry the hills laugh;
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are elated.
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are elated.
1. Explain, “when I cry, the hills laugh, when I humble myself, the flowers
rejoice.”
Rain’s cry refers to downpour. When it rains on the parched hills they laugh with joy at the arrival of a long awaited rain and flowers too rejoice, for they too can bloom and make the nature beautiful once again.
Rain’s cry refers to downpour. When it rains on the parched hills they laugh with joy at the arrival of a long awaited rain and flowers too rejoice, for they too can bloom and make the nature beautiful once again.
2. How does the rain help all things things to be elated?
Rain helps all things to come back to normal existence and once again they are all made happy.
Rain helps all things to come back to normal existence and once again they are all made happy.
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.
And between them I am a messenger of mercy.
I quench the thirst of one;
I cure the ailment of the other.
1. In what sense are the field and clouds lovers?
Like two lovers who cannot exist without the other, who need the other for its completion, the parched field and the dark clouds are complementary. Field wants clouds for its rain and cloud wants the field to fall down for creation. Field wants the clouds to satisfy its passions while the clouds need a warm place to fall down and create! (Sorry, Gibran, if you didn’t mean it!)
Like two lovers who cannot exist without the other, who need the other for its completion, the parched field and the dark clouds are complementary. Field wants clouds for its rain and cloud wants the field to fall down for creation. Field wants the clouds to satisfy its passions while the clouds need a warm place to fall down and create! (Sorry, Gibran, if you didn’t mean it!)
2. How is the rain the messenger of mercy? Whom does the rain take the
messages to?
Rain is a messenger of mercy between the field and the clouds, the two lovers. It is a messenger of mercy rather than of love because rain is nature’s merciful blessing for the earth. Rain takes the messages to and from the fields and the clouds.
Rain is a messenger of mercy between the field and the clouds, the two lovers. It is a messenger of mercy rather than of love because rain is nature’s merciful blessing for the earth. Rain takes the messages to and from the fields and the clouds.
3. Explain, “I quench the thirst of the one, I cure the ailment of the
other.”
The two lovers, field and clouds, need the rain. The field is thirsty for the clouds’ mercy while the clouds suffer from the ailment that it cannot embrace the field, its lover. When rain pours down, both the lovers are satisfied.
The two lovers, field and clouds, need the rain. The field is thirsty for the clouds’ mercy while the clouds suffer from the ailment that it cannot embrace the field, its lover. When rain pours down, both the lovers are satisfied.
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.
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.
1. How do sky react to the arrival of the rain?
Sky reacts to the arrival of rain by striking thunder and flashing lightning.
Sky reacts to the arrival of rain by striking thunder and flashing lightning.
2. How is the rain similar to earthly life?
Birth of rain is similar to the birth of beings on the earth. Rain undergoes various processes and involvement of multiple elements just like the birth of beings such as animals. Rain turns back to water and then to vapor and then to solid ice before it turns to water again, similar to which is life that turns from one stage to the other, from one state to another.
Birth of rain is similar to the birth of beings on the earth. Rain undergoes various processes and involvement of multiple elements just like the birth of beings such as animals. Rain turns back to water and then to vapor and then to solid ice before it turns to water again, similar to which is life that turns from one stage to the other, from one state to another.
3. What are the upraised wings of death for rain?
The upraised wing under which rain dies is probably the wings of the wind that blows the rain to a stop.
The upraised wing under which rain dies is probably the wings of the wind that blows the rain to a stop.
4. What are the mad elements from where life on earth begin?
The mad elements of life are probably those elements such as carbon, calcium, phosphorous, etc.
The mad elements of life are probably those elements such as carbon, calcium, phosphorous, etc.
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.
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.
1. What is a field in need?
A field in need is a dry, parched summer field that awaits a rain.
A field in need is a dry, parched summer field that awaits a rain.
2. What does rain mean by its million ways of embracing flowers?
Rain falls down in various ways. All the million drops that fall down are different in size, speed, tilt, length and many other qualities. They reach the earth at various times and creating various sounds.
Rain falls down in various ways. All the million drops that fall down are different in size, speed, tilt, length and many other qualities. They reach the earth at various times and creating various sounds.
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.
Soft fingers, and my announcement is a
Welcome song. All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand.
1. Explain, “All can hear, but only the sensitive can understand.”
The poet believes that the wonderful beauty of a rain can be enjoyed only by those who have a passionate love for Nature’s phenomena. Rain falls on everyone alike but its beauty is discovered only by those who love it. (Poets and writers are those sensitive ones and that is the reason why we, the non sensitive, consider them insane!)
The poet believes that the wonderful beauty of a rain can be enjoyed only by those who have a passionate love for Nature’s phenomena. Rain falls on everyone alike but its beauty is discovered only by those who love it. (Poets and writers are those sensitive ones and that is the reason why we, the non sensitive, consider them insane!)
2. Pick out an instance of personification from the stanza. What is
personified here?
The word “touch” in the first line is a personification. The rain says it touches the windows like a person who does so.
The word “touch” in the first line is a personification. The rain says it touches the windows like a person who does so.
The heat in the
air gives birth to me,
But in turn I kill it,
As woman overcomes man with
The strength she takes from him.
But in turn I kill it,
As woman overcomes man with
The strength she takes from him.
1. How does heat in the air give birth to rain?
It is the heat that evaporates the water into vapor, which is the birth of rain.
It is the heat that evaporates the water into vapor, which is the birth of rain.
2. How does rain kill the one who begot it?
Rain is given birth by the heat but the very rain is able to cool the air.
Rain is given birth by the heat but the very rain is able to cool the air.
3. Comment on the last two lines.
I am the sigh of
the sea;
The laughter of the field;
The tears of heaven.
The laughter of the field;
The tears of heaven.
1. How is rain the sigh of the sea?
Rain is the sigh of the sea because the sea heaves a sigh of pain at the departure of a part of it but at the same time another sigh of relief with the thought that it would return in the form of a rain.
Rain is the sigh of the sea because the sea heaves a sigh of pain at the departure of a part of it but at the same time another sigh of relief with the thought that it would return in the form of a rain.
2. How is rain laughter of the fields?
Rain is the laughter of the dry fields because its arrival gives the new life and joy.
Rain is the laughter of the dry fields because its arrival gives the new life and joy.
3. How is rain tears of heaven?
Rain is the tears of the heaven as it grieves the departure of the one that was part of it for some time inside the clouds.
Rain is the tears of the heaven as it grieves the departure of the one that was part of it for some time inside the clouds.
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.
Sighs from the deep sea of affection;
Laughter from the colorful field of the spirit;
Tears from the endless heaven of memories.
1. What is the significance of the ending of the poem?
The poem ends like a letter. The rain being the speaker, the poem appears to be a self introducing letter by rain. If we take this as the ending of a letter, look at the three who sign the letter: Sighs, Laughter and Tears! We can also notice the address of each: “Sighs are from the deep sea of affection,” “Laughter from the colorful field of spirit,” Tears from the endless heaven of memories.” So these are the three who sign this letter and now it is time to understand these lines deeper.
The poem ends like a letter. The rain being the speaker, the poem appears to be a self introducing letter by rain. If we take this as the ending of a letter, look at the three who sign the letter: Sighs, Laughter and Tears! We can also notice the address of each: “Sighs are from the deep sea of affection,” “Laughter from the colorful field of spirit,” Tears from the endless heaven of memories.” So these are the three who sign this letter and now it is time to understand these lines deeper.
2. Explain Sighs.
A song, of course, needs sounds and corresponding feelings. Here, sighs and laughter are the two sounds. Note that sighs and laughter are slightly opposite and slightly related. We heave sighs at times of joyous relief and at times of desperate sadness.
A song, of course, needs sounds and corresponding feelings. Here, sighs and laughter are the two sounds. Note that sighs and laughter are slightly opposite and slightly related. We heave sighs at times of joyous relief and at times of desperate sadness.
3. Explain laughter.
Laughter is the other sound heard in the song of the rain. Colorful field of spirit can mean plenty of images but I think the poet is talking about the world of the dead – not the heaven or hell but the universe where, as the poet says,”I am like earthly life, which begins at the feet of the mad elements and ends under the upraised wings of death,” a world where everything falls dead and later comes back to life. You call also recall the poet referring the dry field to a lover. Now it comes clearer that the laughter comes from the colorful world of spirits. These spirits are laughing because rain, for them, brings life as well as death back. They are waiting for their rebirth!
Laughter is the other sound heard in the song of the rain. Colorful field of spirit can mean plenty of images but I think the poet is talking about the world of the dead – not the heaven or hell but the universe where, as the poet says,”I am like earthly life, which begins at the feet of the mad elements and ends under the upraised wings of death,” a world where everything falls dead and later comes back to life. You call also recall the poet referring the dry field to a lover. Now it comes clearer that the laughter comes from the colorful world of spirits. These spirits are laughing because rain, for them, brings life as well as death back. They are waiting for their rebirth!
4. Explain Tears
The third ones who signs the letter is tears and they are from the endless heaven of memories. No one has a stock of memories without tears. The heaven here is the vast sky where these memories are stored. When someone dies “under the upraised winds of death,” his tearful memories join the sky. Simply concluded, when it rains, together with the rain drops, there fall those tears and complete the song of the rain.
The third ones who signs the letter is tears and they are from the endless heaven of memories. No one has a stock of memories without tears. The heaven here is the vast sky where these memories are stored. When someone dies “under the upraised winds of death,” his tearful memories join the sky. Simply concluded, when it rains, together with the rain drops, there fall those tears and complete the song of the rain.
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