Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RAIN AFTER DROUGHT, by ALLAN PARK PATON



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RAIN AFTER DROUGHT, by                    
First Line: Am I awake, or is it a dream?
Last Line: Welcome reviver! Hurrah, for the rain!
Subject(s): Rain


(Time: four o'clock morning.)

AM I awake, or is it a dream?
Beside the fresh run of a streamlet I seem;
And, strange! o'er my head it seems to be flowing,
I hear it as over the roof it is going,
And the eaves, ah, how lulling its strain!
Now it grows more distinct -- it is tinkling and clear,
Oh, can it be it which is blessing my ear?
Rain it must be! -- Hurrah, for the rain!
The bright-dashing rain!
The fresh-splashing rain!
Welcome reviver! -- Hurrah, for the rain!

Oh, I could lie ever and listen thy fall,
At a season like this when thou'rt welcome to all;
But when all my green friends are again lifting up
Their branches with joy, as they drink from your cup,
Shall I but a hearer remain?
No, no! I must up! I must see thy return --
I must see the fires quenching that lately did burn: --
There thou art! Oh, hurrah, for the rain!
The sweet-singing rain!
The clear-ringing rain!
Welcome reviver! Hurrah, for the rain!

Hurrah, for the rain! Methinks through the land
I see her brown sons at their farm thresholds stand,
Awaken'd, like me, by thy hope-bringing sound,
And gazing with joy on their hard-labour'd ground,
Till, before them, of deep golden grain,
Large seas seem to rise, and in fancy are seen
Their cattle and flocks amid pasturage green
Browsing happy: -- Hurrah, for the rain!
In their mind's eye already is groaning the wain,
And the barn is busy: -- Hurrah, for the rain!
The fear-stilling rain!
The barn-filling rain!
Welcome reviver! Hurrah, for the rain!

How drippingly-fresh the large trees o'er the road!
(No sounds save from them, and the rain now abroad,)
And how glad-like, reliev'd-like, look tree, bush, and flow'r,
In our own little garden wash'd by the bright show'r;
Such a sight to the soul is a gain!
It adds to our hope, and it adds to our faith;
It is like fresh existence succeeding to death;
Such a sight! -- Oh, hurrah for the rain!
From all idle frettings it makes us refrain;
God is late, but is coming! -- Hurrah, for the rain!
The crystal-glob'd rain!
The fairy-rob'd rain!
Welcome reviver! Hurrah, for the rain!





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