Chapter 12- Song of the Rain

Explain the ending of the song.

"I am like earthly life … "

Why does the poet call rain as earthly life?

How would you express rain as

- an agent of floods?

- a source of water for dams?

Notice the imagery built around 'sigh of the sea', 'laughter of the field' and 'tears of heaven'. Explain the three expressions in context of rain.

"...All can hear, but only

The sensitive can understand"

What does the poet want to convey?

Think about million little ways in which the rain embraces the trees. Mention a few of them.

How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures clouds ailment?

"When I cry the hills laugh;

When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;

When I bow, all things are elated."

Cry, humble and bow indicate different intensity with which the rain falls. Explain the three in context.

In this universe, rain performs many functions. What are those?

Why is the rain divine?

The tone and mood of the rain in the poem reflect its_________.

(i) love for the earth

(ii) desire to take revenge

(iii) merriment as it destroys

(iv) desire to look beautiful

The rain calls itself the 'dotted silver threads' as_________.

(i) the shimmering drops fall one after the other

(ii) it ties heaven and earth

(iii) it dots the earth with shimmering water

(iv) it decorates the fields

Imagining yourself as the subject of this poem, write five lines about yourself in less than five minutes.

You may like to

• define yourself

• state what you do

• explain why people like/dislike you

• mention any other characteristic about yourself

What is 'I' in these lines?

Get into groups of four. Read the lines and put them in the right order. Read the version that you develop to the whole class.

The voice of thunder declares my arrival

I emerge from the heart of the Sea

I descend and embrace the flowers.

I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven

The rainbow announces my departure