RAIN ON THE ROOF

RAIN ON THE ROOF 

-COATES KINNEY

When the sky is covered with dark clouds and it starts raining, have you ever listened to the patter of the soft rain on the roof? What thoughts flashed through your mind as you heard this melody of nature? Read the poem to find out what the poet dreamed of while listening to the rain.

When the humid shadows hover

Over all the starry spheres 

And the melancholy darkness

Gently weeps in rainy tears, 

What a bliss to press the pillow 

Of a cottage-chamber bed

And lie listening to the patter 

Of the soft rain overhead!

Every tinkle on the shingles 

Has an echo in the heart;

And a thousand dreamy fancies

Into busy being start,

And a thousand recollections

Weave their air-threads into woof,

As I listen to the patter

Of the rain upon the roof.

Now in memory comes my mother,

As she used in years agone,

To regard the darling dreamers

Ere she left them till the dawn:

O! I feel her fond look on me

As I list to this refrain

Which is played upon the shingles

By the patter of the rain.

GLOSSARY

tinkle : short, light ringing sounds

shingles : rectangular wooden tiles used on roofs

woof : weft, i.e. the threads woven across the loom

ere : old poetic word for 'before'

refrain : a repeated part of a song or a poem : here, the sound of the rain

list : old poetic word for listen

Thinking about the Poem

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I.1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.
(i) humid shadows
(ii) starry spheres
(iii) what a bliss
(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start
(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof

Answer :
(i) “Humid shadows” refer to the dark clouds that produce rain.
(ii) “Starry spheres” refers to the star-studded night.
(iii) “What a bliss” refers to the poet's happiness. When it rains, the poet lies into his cottage chamber-bed  and enjoys the patter of rain upon the roof.
(iv) This refers to the various thoughts and imagination that comes in the poet’s mind.
(v) This phrase refers to the poet's recollection of a beautiful picture made up of numerous thoughts and memories.

 2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?
Answer : When it rains, the poet likes  to lie with his head pressed against the pillow of his cottage chamber bed and listen to the patter of the soft rain.

 3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?
Answer : The single major memory that comes to the poet is that of his mother and her fond look. The “darling dreamers” are referred to the poet and his siblings in their childhood when they were gently put to sleep by their mother.

 4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
Answer: No, the poet is not a child anymore. He is an adult now and his mother is also no longer alive.

 II.1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?
Answer : Yes, my mother used to tuck me in when I was a young child, just like the poet’s mother did.

2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?
Answer : Yes, I like the rain. When it rains steadily I get into my house and enjoy the weather with family. We enjoy tea with some snacks and watch a nice movie.

3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain.
Answer : No, everybody is not fortunate enough to have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains.  I have seen many slum dwellers, beggars and the homeless people who look for a dry spot to rest their heads. I have also seen poor animals seeking shelter under trees and under the tin roofs of the small roadside tea stalls.