Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CITY RAIN by BERNICE LESBIA KENYON

First Line: THE SKIES ARE ETCHED WITH TRACERIES OF GREY
Last Line: DASHING ITS LIVING WONDER IN OUR EYES.
Subject(s): CLOUDS; RAIN; WATER;
THE skies are etched with traceries of grey;
Gusts of white rain blow down between the walls;
With silver heaviness the torrent falls
From leads and gutters, shattering into spray
And hissing on the pavement. Oh, that clean
Harsh rain like this could break the stone-work in,
Crumple the city's towers, and begin
To wake from hidden earth its meed of green!
We are built on rock, and like the rock we rise,
Sterile, defiant, when the spring rains come;
So hard of heart our stoniness resounds
With echoes of the storm, though we are dumb.
On our dead strength the splendor beats and pounds,
Dashing its living wonder in our eyes.



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