The Song Of Rain

By: KHALIL GIBRAN

ABOUT THE POET• KAHLIL GIBRAN was a Lebanese-

American artist, poet, and writer. Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon, as a young man he immigrated with his family to the United States, where he studied art and began his literary career. in Lebanon, he is

still celebrated as a literary hero. He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet . Gibran is the

third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.

About the SONG OF RAINS• Song Of The Rain was included in the famous

book Tears And Laughter by the U.S- Arabic- Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran who wrote it in

free verse. It is written in the form of the Rain herself singing her song as she comes down. 

Rain is beautifully personified here. A concise summary is available at the related link and

the song which has since been slightly edited and recast in the true poetic form to facilitate singing and easier understanding is available. 

Famous quote by Khalil Gibran

If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were. - Khalil Gibran

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.

THE SONG OF THE RAIN

I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn Her fields and valleys.

The rain is divine. It falls from the sky it appears to be like silver threads. It calls itself silver threads as it connects heaven and earth. It is dropped by the god . As it drops down on the earth it spreads all over the fields and valleys. It suggests that the rain is life giving.

When I cry the hills laugh;When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;

When I bow, all things are elated.

When the rain falls the hills are cheerful because the rain gives life. The word ‘cry’ here suggests that it rains heavily on hills. The echo of the rain sounds like the laughter of the hills. The rain ‘humbles’ means that it falls moderately i.e. neither heavy nor low. As a result the flowers feel happy.

Everything that bestows on nature seems to be happy. The rain ‘bows’ means that it falls low and gives immense joy to

everything on the earth. The rain is the source of rejuvenation and renewal.

• The field refers to earth and the clouds refer to the heaven. The rain as a messenger between the two tries to connect them as it is divine. It quenches the thirst of , of course the earth. For earth is dry, it needs water as water is an elixir of life. Therefore the clouds burst resulting in rainfall and the clouds are relieved. The rain is trying to suggest that both the earth and heaven need each other and they both depend on rain.

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.

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 rain falls accompanied by thundering. Its sound appears as if it announces the arrival of rain. Soon after the rain falls the beautiful rainbow appears in the sky as if it is informing the earth about the departure of the rain.The rain is as short lived as is the man’s life on earth. It comes and

goes just as the man is born and he dies. Both the rain and the earthly life are similar as both of them are born out of elements of nature and they both meet their death.

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.

• The poet has described the rain here in a scientific way. The water evaporates from the sea to the great heights of the sky and the water vapors accumulate in the clouds. These fall down on the earth in the form of rain droplets. Thus rain falls in millions of droplets , It falls in different forms i.e.. snow, hail etc. It refreshes the trees, adds to more the plants, helps in their healthy growth and waters them.

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

The rain falls gently and its sound is a proclamation of its arrival on the earth. At the same time its sound echoes which makes the rain feel that it is being welcomed. Every one hears the sound of rain but those who are sensitive really recognize its significance. They understand how important rain is for earth.

I am the sigh of the sea; The laughter of the field;

The tears of heaven.

The water evaporating from the sea has been referred as the sigh of the sea. When the rain falls on the earth it spreads joy as it is a blessing particularly for the farmers in the field. So the laughter is referred to happiness due to rain. The rain drops falling on the earth are referred as tears of the sky as they fall from the sky.

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.

The poet highlights qualities of the rain. The rain is the sigh of the sea when the water vapours rise from the sea into the sky. It spreads the laughter through the colourful fields. It means that rejuvenation takes place due to the rain. The crops which are the spirit of the field flourish. Therefore the fields appear to the poet as if they are laughing. The rain drops fall like tears from the heaven to the earth and give new life to it. The rain bridges a link between the earth and heaven.