Rain in the Desert
John Gould Fletcher's Rain in the Desert is a collection of poems that explore the beauty and mystery of the desert. The poems are divided into three sections: "The Desert," "The Rain," and "The People." In the first section, Fletcher paints a vivid picture of the desert landscape, from its vastness and desolation to its hidden beauty and secrets. In the second section, he explores the power of rain in the desert, from its life-giving properties to its destructive force. In the third section, Fletcher examines the people who inhabit the desert, from the nomadic tribes to the settlers who have made the desert their home. Throughout the collection, Fletcher's poems are filled with vivid imagery and a deep appreciation for the desert and its inhabitants.
By John Gould Fletcher · First published 1916 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Nature Writing, Historical Fiction · 149 words
First lines
The huge red-buttressed mesa over yonder Is merely a far-off temple where the sleepy sun is burning Its altar-fires of pinyon and of toyon for the day.
The old priests sleep, white-shrouded, Their pottery whistles lie beside them, the prayer-sticks closely feathered; On every mummied face there glows a smile.
The sun is rolling slowly Beneath the sluggish folds of the sky-serpents, Coiling, uncoiling, blue-black, sparked with fires.
The old dead priests Feel in the thin dried earth that is heaped about them, Above the smell of scorching oozing pinyon, The acrid smell of rain.
What this Textopian page supports
Rain in the Desert is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Gould Fletcher, 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: John Gould Fletcher
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Nature Writing, Historical Fiction, Mystery
- Length: 149 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Rain in the Desert by John Gould Fletcher
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Rain in the Desert?
- How does this poem by John Gould Fletcher fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — John Gould Fletcher's writing style is characterized by its poetic and lyrical quality, making it a perfect fit for the Literary Fiction genre.
- Nature Writing — The title of the book, 'Rain in the Desert', suggests that the book will explore the natural world, making Nature Writing a relevant genre.
- Historical Fiction — John Gould Fletcher's writing often draws on historical events and figures, making Historical Fiction a relevant genre.
- Mystery — John Gould Fletcher's writing often contains elements of mystery and suspense, making Mystery a relevant genre.
Tags
20th century · American poetry · English poetry · Imagist poetry · acrid · blue-black · chanting · coiling · day · dead · dried · far-off