Voice of the Rain Flashcards
There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?
One of them belongs to the poet and the other to the rain. These are indicated in
lines 1-2 and 3-9 respectively.
What does the phrase ‘strange to tell’ mean?
The phrase refers to a strange phenomenon—the rain gives an answer to the poet’s query. It is surprising to report the answer.
There is a parallel drawn between r« in and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two.
The following words/phrases indicate the parallel between rain and music: ‘Poem of Earth’, ‘eternal I rise impalpable out of land and the bottomless sea’ ‘For song duly with love returns.’
Both originate from a source, rise up, reach fulfilment, wander about whether cared about or not and finally return to source of origin with love.
How is the cyclic movement of rein brought out in the poem?
Rain water rises untouched out of the land and deep sea and gathers in the sky, where it changes form, and then comes down to earth to bathe the dry tiny particles of dust layers and all that lies buried under it. Then it returns to the place of its origin. Science textbooks indicate that water vapours from the rivers and ocean rise up to the sky due to the intense heat. They assume the form of clouds and after condensation drop down as rain. The water flows back through rivers to the seas and oceans.
Why are the last two lines put within brackets?
The last two lines contain a comment about music and its cycle. These differ from the first nine lines. The first two lines are the voice of the poet whereas lines three to nine are spoken by rain. The cycle of song is put within brackets to mark the difference in speakers but similarity in content.
The poem begins in a conversational tone. Who are the two participants? What is the advantage of this method?
The two participants are the poet and the rain. The poet makes the rain relate its own story. This direct presentation makes the narration more authentic, interesting and captivating.
“Behind the apparent simplicity, the poem hides a deep meaning.” What exactly does the poem convey to the reader?
The poem is not merely a description of life-cycle of rain. It has deeper meaning. Rain is a poem or thing of beauty of Earth and so is song or music. The comparison between rain and music .and their function: making the Earth pure and beautiful conveys the eternal role of natural phenomenon and art in real life.
How does the rain justify its claim: “I am the Poem of Earth’”?
The rain narrates the journey of its life—from birth to return to origin in mythical terms. The facts are scientific but the phrases that convey them are metaphoric and literary. The whole journey has a beauty and charm associated with a poem.
How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem “The Voice of the Rain”? What points of similarity do you notice between rain and music?
The rain calls itself the poem of earth. It is everlasting and perpetual. It is something that cannot be touched. It originates from the land and the deep sea. Then it rises upward to heaven where it changes its form into a cloud, yet remains the same in quality. From the sky it pours down on earth to wash the dry tiny particles and dust layers of the earth. The rain helps the unborn seeds to sprout. These seeds lay hidden and unborn under the layers of earth. Rain gives back life to its origin making it pure and beautiful. Rain and music are both beautiful and life-giving. They are eternal sources of joy and go on perpetually. They inspire even dormant objects and persons with life and activity.
Why does the poet get surprised when he gets an answer from the rain?
The poet gets surprised when he gets an answer from the rain, as it is inanimate and cannot speak. In this poem, to the poet’s and reader’s amazement, the rain gives a reply which has been translated by the poet for the readers.
What answer does the rain give back to the poet?
The rain answers to the poet’s question by telling him that it is the Poem of Earth and is involved in a continuing process of going up and coming down.
How does the rain justify its claim ‘I am the Poem of Earth’?
The rain calls itself the Poem of the Earth because the poem rendered by the poet has the task of bringing joy, happiness, life to its readers. Similarly when the rain falls down over Earth, a rhythm or music is created. That’s why the rain calls itself the Poem of Earth.
Describe the never ending cycle of rain.
Water rises unperceived in the form of vapour from land and water bodies on the Earth. It goes up, takes the form of a cloud, changes its shape and falls down on Earth in the form of water drops to bathe the small dust particles, land and sea. The water returns through rivers to oceans and seas after it rains on Earth.
Why does the rain call itself ‘impalpable’?
Impalpable means something that cannot be felt by touching or seeing. When water takes the form of vapour, it is not visible to the human eye and nor can we feel its touch.
The vapour rises to the sky, condenses and forms clouds which cause rain. Though we are aware of its presence, the process remains invisible to us. Hence, the rain has rightly called itself ‘impalpable’.
What happens when it rains after a long hot spell?
After a long hot spell, everything is dried up on Earth. When it rains, all the dust that has accumulated on Earth gets washed away, giving a new fresh look to nature. Moreover the seeds which were lying latent till now, get germinated with the help of rain and new trees and plants start growing.
