It Rains by Edward Thomas (1916)
The poem explores themes of solitude, nature, and the bittersweet nature of memory. It opens with a vivid depiction of a rain-soaked orchard, emphasizing stillness and the untouched beauty of the landscape. The speaker reflects on the tranquility of the scene, contrasting it with a sense of longing and nostalgia for past experiences of love and companionship. As the rain falls, the speaker experiences a mix of happiness and sadness. The imagery of rain symbolizes both cleansing and melancholy, suggesting a connection between the natural world and human emotions. The mention of two people walking and kissing in the rain evokes a sense of lost intimacy, highlighting the speaker's isolation and yearning for connection. The poem's structure reinforces its contemplative tone, with a focus on sensory details that immerse the reader in the environment. The speaker's thoughts shift from the present moment to memories of joy, underscoring the transient nature of happiness. The final lines encapsulate the tension between the beauty of the moment and the inevitability of loss, as the speaker acknowledges that such happiness may never be experienced again. Overall, the work captures the complexity of human emotions in relation to nature, illustrating how moments of joy are often intertwined with feelings of sadness and longing. The imagery and reflective quality invite readers to consider their own experiences of love, loss, and the passage of time.
By Edward Thomas · First published 1916 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romantic Poetry · 139 words
First lines
It rains, and nothing stirs within the fence Anywhere through the orchard's untrodden, dense Forest of parsley. The great diamonds Of rain on the grass-blades there is none to break, Or the fallen petals further down to shake.
And I am nearly as happy as possible To search the wilderness in vain though well, To think of two walking, kissing there, Drenched, yet forgetting the kisses of the rain:
Sad, too, to think that never, never again, Unless alone, so happy shall I walk In the rain. When I turn away, on its fine stalk Twilight has fined to naught, the parsley flower Figures, suspended still and ghostly white, The past hovering as it revisits the light.
What this Textopian page supports
It Rains is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edward Thomas, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edward Thomas
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Modernist Poetry, Imagist Poetry
- Length: 139 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature Poetry — The imagery of rain and the natural setting emphasizes the connection to nature.
- Romantic Poetry — Themes of love and nostalgia are present, aligning with Romantic ideals.
- Modernist Poetry — The poem's introspective style and focus on individual experience reflect modernist tendencies.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Weather · Mood · Atmosphere · Emotion · Reflection · Solitude · Isolation · Nostalgia · Longing · Melancholy