After Rain by Madison Cawein (1907)

Name: After Rain
Author: Madison Cawein

The poem presents a vivid celebration of nature following a rain, depicting the beauty and vitality of the landscape. It opens with a personification of the day as a maiden adorned with flowers, highlighting the interplay of light and water on the earth. The imagery evokes a sense of joy and renewal, as the day interacts with the flora, kissing dew drops and gathering sparkles from the trees. The atmosphere is rich with sensory details, where bees intoxicated by the sweet air and the glistening hay contribute to a festive ambiance. The harvester's scythe symbolizes the inevitable cycle of life and death, reminding the reader of nature's transient beauty. The poem poses questions about the essence of the scents and sounds in the woods, suggesting the presence of mythical beings like Dryads and Fauns, which adds a layer of enchantment to the natural scene. The speaker expresses a desire for solitude and reflection, yearning to escape the struggles of human existence. This longing for peace leads to a contemplation of the wisdom found in nature, where the old oaks serve as silent teachers. The poem concludes with a wish to rest and dream, seeking solace in the natural world and its deeper truths, contrasting the chaos of human life with the serenity of the wilderness.

By Madison Cawein · First published 1907 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism · 643 words

First lines

Behold the blossom-bosomed Day again, With all the star-white Hours in her train, Laughs out of pearl-lights through a golden ray, That, leaning on the woodland wildness, blends A sprinkled amber with the showers that lay Their oblong emeralds on the leafy ends. Behold her bend with maiden-braided brows Above the wildflower, sidewise with its strain Of dewy happiness, to kiss again Each drop to death; or, under rainy boughs, With fingers, fragrant as the woodland rain, Gather the sparkles from the sycamore, To set within each core Of crimson roses girdling her hips, Where each bud dreams and drips. Smoothing her blue-black hair, -- where many a tusk Of iris flashes, -- like the falchions' sheen Of Faery 'round blue banners of its Queen, -- Is it a Naiad singing in the dusk, That haunts the spring, where all the moss is musk With footsteps of the flowers on the banks? Or just a wild-bird voluble with thanks?

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After Rain is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1907 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Madison Cawein
Date: 1907 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Symbolism, Imagism
Length: 643 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem's focus on personal emotions and vivid imagery aligns it closely with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
Nature Poetry — The poem extensively explores themes of nature, beauty, and the changing seasons, which are central to nature poetry.
Romanticism — The emphasis on emotion, individual experience, and the beauty of the natural world reflects key elements of Romantic literature.
Symbolism — The use of symbols such as flowers, rain, and natural elements conveys deeper meanings and emotions, characteristic of Symbolist poetry.