'Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain' by Lizette Woodworth Reese


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Spicewood1920Oh, gray and tender is the rain,
That drips, drips on the pane!
A hundred things come in the door,
The scent of herbs, the thought of yore.I see the pool out in the grass,
A bit of broken glass;
The red flags running wet and straight,
Down to the little flapping gate.Lombardy poplars tall and three,
Across the road I see;
There is no loveliness so plain
As a tall poplar in the rain.But oh, the hundred things and more,
That come in at the door! --
The smack of mint, old joy, old pain,
Caught in the gray and tender rain.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain by Lizette Woodworth Reese

As a lover of poetry, I have come across many works that have left me mesmerized and in awe of the beauty of language. However, there are few poems that have touched my heart and soul in the way that Lizette Woodworth Reese's "Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain" has. This beautiful poem is a perfect example of how a simple, yet profound expression of emotions can leave a lasting impact on the reader.

Lizette Woodworth Reese - A Brief Introduction

Before delving into the poem, it is essential to understand a bit about the poet herself. Lizette Woodworth Reese was an American poet who lived from 1856 to 1935. She was born in Maryland and spent most of her life there. Reese started writing poetry quite early in her life, and her first collection of poems, "A Handful of Lavender," was published in 1891. Her poetry is known for its simplicity, beauty, and deep emotional resonance. She was also known for writing about the natural world and rural life, which is evident in "Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain."

The Poem - An Overview

"Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain" is a beautiful poem that speaks of the joys and sorrows of life. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The poem's structure is simple, which allows the reader to focus on the emotions that are being conveyed.

The poem starts with a simple observation - "Oh, gray and tender is the rain." The use of the words "gray" and "tender" immediately sets the mood for the rest of the poem. The rain is not just any rain, but it is gray and tender, which gives it a sense of melancholy and softness. The second line of the poem continues with the observation, "As was her dearest gown." The rain is being compared to a dear one's gown, which further emphasizes the emotional connection that the speaker has with the rain.

The third and fourth lines of the first stanza provide a sense of contrast, "Gray and sweet was her sorrow; / Chidings of winter dull." The speaker is juxtaposing the sadness of the rain with the dullness of winter. The rain is not just gray, but it is also sweet, which shows that the speaker finds beauty in sadness.

The second stanza continues with the theme of contrast, "And she loved much the leaves / Of the sycamore / Falling as fell her griefs." The speaker is comparing the falling leaves of the sycamore tree to the falling of her own griefs. The leaves are falling, just like her tears, but she finds beauty in their fall.

The third stanza is a bit different from the first two, as it introduces the concept of hope, "Came the spring with all its splendor, / All its birds and all its buds; / All its blossoms, all its music, / All its promise of glad floods." The speaker is acknowledging that even though there is sadness and grief, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

The fourth stanza continues with the idea of hope, "And she woke to hear among / The noises of the city street / The song that April had begun, / The gladdest song of all the year." The speaker is listening to the song of April, which is the "gladdest song of all the year." The song represents the hope that comes with a new beginning.

The fifth stanza brings back the contrast between sadness and happiness, "Heard the mating thrushes sing, / Watched the lizard on the wall, / Saw the bat on leathern wing, / Heard the sweeping of the scythe." The speaker is observing the beauty of nature and the cycle of life and death. The mating thrushes represent new life, while the bat and the scythe represent death. The speaker finds beauty in both.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close with a sense of acceptance and understanding, "But oh, the gray, the heavy sky, / This still despair of rain! / How it weighs upon the heart, / That gladness comes not again." The speaker acknowledges that even though there is hope and beauty in life, there is still sadness and despair. The rain may never go away, but the speaker has learned to accept it and find beauty in it.

Interpretation of the Poem

"Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain" is a poem that speaks of the human experience of joy and sorrow. The rain represents the sadness and grief that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. However, the speaker finds beauty in the rain, which represents the idea that even in sadness, there can be hope and beauty.

The use of contrast throughout the poem is significant. The speaker is comparing sadness to happiness, death to life, and despair to hope. The contrast creates a sense of balance in the poem, which shows that even though there is sadness, there is always hope for a better future.

The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful as it brings the poem to a close with a sense of acceptance and understanding. The speaker acknowledges that even though there may never be complete happiness, there is still beauty in life. The rain may never go away, but the speaker has learned to accept it and find beauty in it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain" is a beautiful poem that speaks of the human experience of joy and sorrow. The poem's simple structure and use of contrast create a sense of balance and beauty in the sadness. The speaker finds hope and acceptance in the rain, which represents the idea that even in sadness, there can be beauty. Lizette Woodworth Reese's poem is a testament to the power of language and its ability to express the deepest emotions of the human heart.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain: A Poetic Masterpiece

Lizette Woodworth Reese, an American poet, wrote the poem "Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain" in 1920. The poem is a beautiful depiction of the melancholic beauty of rain and its impact on human emotions. The poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use simple words to create a profound impact on the reader's mind. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem by describing the rain as "gray and tender." The use of the word "gray" creates a sense of sadness and melancholy, while the word "tender" adds a touch of softness and gentleness to the poem. The first line of the poem itself is enough to transport the reader to a rainy day, where the world is covered in a gray mist, and the raindrops fall gently on the ground.

The second line of the first stanza reads, "The sighing of the woods is heard." This line creates a sense of harmony between nature and the rain. The sound of the raindrops falling on the leaves and the ground is accompanied by the sighing of the woods, creating a beautiful symphony of nature. The line also adds a touch of sadness to the poem, as if the woods are mourning the loss of something.

The third line of the first stanza reads, "The call of the doves is like a word." This line adds a touch of romance to the poem. The sound of the rain and the call of the doves create a beautiful atmosphere, as if the rain is a messenger of love. The line also creates a sense of longing, as if the doves are calling out to someone who is far away.

The fourth line of the first stanza reads, "And like a veil the silvery rain." This line creates a beautiful image of the rain falling like a veil, covering everything in its path. The use of the word "silvery" adds a touch of beauty to the poem, as if the rain is a precious metal falling from the sky.

The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of melancholy and sadness. The first line of the second stanza reads, "And now the rain, a silver rope." This line creates a sense of continuity between the first and second stanzas. The rain is still falling, but now it is described as a "silver rope," creating a sense of strength and resilience.

The second line of the second stanza reads, "Is slanting down the meadow slope." This line creates a beautiful image of the rain falling down the meadow slope, creating a sense of movement and energy. The use of the word "slanting" adds a touch of drama to the poem, as if the rain is falling at an angle, creating a sense of urgency.

The third line of the second stanza reads, "And with its fine, ecstatic threads." This line adds a touch of spirituality to the poem. The rain is described as having "fine, ecstatic threads," creating a sense of divine intervention. The line also creates a sense of joy, as if the rain is a gift from the heavens.

The fourth line of the second stanza reads, "Enmeshes and embraces the world." This line creates a sense of unity between the rain and the world. The rain is described as "enmeshing and embracing" the world, creating a sense of oneness between nature and the rain.

The third stanza of the poem is the most beautiful and profound. The first line of the third stanza reads, "A thousand roofs they are the strings." This line creates a beautiful image of the rain falling on the roofs of a thousand houses, creating a sense of harmony between the rain and human civilization. The use of the word "strings" adds a touch of music to the poem, as if the rain is playing a beautiful melody on the roofs.

The second line of the third stanza reads, "And down the strings the rain outsings." This line creates a sense of competition between the rain and human civilization. The rain is described as "outsinging" the roofs, creating a sense of superiority. The line also creates a sense of playfulness, as if the rain is having fun competing with the roofs.

The third line of the third stanza reads, "The murmur of the earth is heard." This line creates a sense of unity between the rain and the earth. The rain is described as hearing the "murmur of the earth," creating a sense of empathy and understanding. The line also creates a sense of mystery, as if the earth is speaking a language that only the rain can understand.

The fourth line of the third stanza reads, "And in one chorus all things blend." This line creates a sense of oneness between all things in the world. The rain, the roofs, and the earth are all described as blending together in "one chorus," creating a sense of unity and harmony.

In conclusion, "Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain" is a beautiful poem that captures the melancholic beauty of rain and its impact on human emotions. The poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use simple words to create a profound impact on the reader's mind. The poem is a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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