The Voice of the Rain Summary

The poem begins with the poet watching a soft, falling shower of rain. In a moment of wonder, he asks the rain, 'And who art thou?' (Who are you?). Surprisingly, the rain answers him. The poet translates the rain's answer for the readers.

The rain proudly introduces itself as the 'Poem of Earth'. It then beautifully describes the scientific water cycle in poetic terms:

1. Evaporation: It says it rises 'impalpable' (unseen/untouchable) in the form of water vapour from the land and the deep sea.
2. Condensation: It travels upward to heaven (the sky), where its form completely changes into dark, vague clouds, yet its core essence (water) remains the exact same.
3. Precipitation: It falls back down to Earth to wash away droughts, dust layers, and to bathe the dry globe.

The rain explains its crucial purpose: Without the rain, the seeds lying hidden in the soil would remain forever unborn (dead). The rain gives them life, allowing them to sprout. By returning to the Earth, the rain constantly beautifies and purifies its own birthplace.

In the last two lines (placed in brackets), the poet draws a profound parallel between the Rain and a Song (Poetry/Art). Just like the rain rises from the Earth and returns to nourish it, a song originates from the heart of the poet. It travels around the world, whether people listen to it or not ('reck'd or unreck'd'), and eventually returns to the poet in the form of love and appreciation, purifying the poet's soul.