White Board

Rain on the Roof 

by Coates Kinney

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 to listen to the patter

  Of the soft rain overhead!

The stanza from "Rain on the Roof" by Coates Kinney is rich in imagery and literary devices, creating a vivid and emotive depiction of a rainy night. Here’s a critical analysis of the stanza:

Imagery

Kinney uses strong visual and auditory imagery to paint a serene and introspective scene. Phrases like "humid shadows hover" and "starry spheres" provide a visual sense of the nighttime sky covered by clouds. The "patter of the soft rain overhead" evokes the sound of rain, enhancing the sensory experience.

Personification

The poem personifies the darkness as "melancholy" that "gently weeps in rainy tears." This gives the rain a human-like quality, suggesting that the weather reflects an emotional state of sadness or introspection.

Alliteration

The use of alliteration in phrases like "humid shadows hover" and "starry spheres" adds a musical quality to the poem, making it more rhythmic and pleasant to the ear.

Contrast

The contrast between the "melancholy darkness" and the "bliss" of pressing the pillow highlights the duality of emotions. While the setting might seem somber, the speaker finds comfort and joy in it.

Tone

The tone of the stanza is reflective and soothing. The choice of words like "bliss," "gently," and "soft rain" conveys a sense of peace and contentment. The speaker finds solace in the simplicity of the moment, appreciating the beauty of nature and the comfort of being indoors.

Theme

The stanza explores themes of solitude, comfort, and the emotional impact of nature. It suggests that there is a profound sense of tranquility that comes from being in tune with the natural world, even during moments of melancholy.

Overall, Kinney’s use of literary devices creates a vivid and emotive scene that allows the reader to experience the soothing effect of rain on a quiet night, emphasizing the beauty of simple, introspective moments.

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.

This stanza from Coates Kinney's "Rain on the Roof" continues to build upon the sensory and emotional landscape established in the previous lines. Let's explore the critical analysis and the literary devices used:

Literary Devices

Alliteration: The stanza employs alliteration in "tinkle on the shingles," creating a rhythmic sound that mimics the gentle and continuous patter of rain. This repetition of the "t" and "s" sounds provides a musical quality to the lines, enhancing the soothing atmosphere.

Personification: The phrase "echo in the heart" personifies the sounds of the rain as something that resonates emotionally with the speaker, suggesting a deep, intimate connection between the natural world and the speaker’s inner feelings.

Metaphor: The "echo in the heart" also functions as a metaphor for how external experiences can trigger internal emotions and thoughts. The rain's sound is likened to an echo, implying that it reverberates within the speaker's soul.

Hyperbole: The mention of "a thousand dreamy fancies" and "a thousand recollections" is a hyperbolic expression that emphasizes the multitude and variety of thoughts and memories that the rain evokes. This exaggeration highlights the overwhelming and almost magical effect that the rain has on the speaker's imagination and memory.

Imagery: Kinney uses vivid imagery in "weave their air-threads into woof" to describe how memories and fantasies intertwine in the speaker's mind. The metaphor of weaving suggests a delicate and intricate process, creating a tapestry of thoughts and emotions influenced by the rain.

Analysis

The stanza emphasizes the introspective and contemplative mood of the poem. The "tinkle on the shingles" serves as a catalyst for the speaker's imagination, sparking "dreamy fancies" and "recollections" that form a complex and rich mental landscape. This suggests that the rain does more than just provide a soothing backdrop; it also stimulates the mind and heart, prompting a flood of memories and fantasies.

The imagery of weaving suggests a creative and artistic process, indicating that the rain not only brings back past memories but also inspires new thoughts and ideas. The use of the term "air-threads" adds a sense of lightness and ethereality, underscoring the ephemeral and fleeting nature of these thoughts.

Overall, the stanza reflects the theme of how nature, particularly rain, can profoundly affect human emotions and imagination, turning a simple act of listening to the rain into a deeply personal and transformative experience.

Now in memory comes my mother,

  As she used long years agone,

To regard the darling dreamers,

  Ere she left them till the dawn:

O! I see her bending o’er me,

  As I list to this refrain

Which is played upon the shingles

  By the patter of the rain.

his stanza deepens the emotional resonance of Coates Kinney's "Rain on the Roof" by introducing a poignant personal memory. Here’s a critical analysis with a focus on the literary devices employed:

Literary Devices

Imagery: The vivid image of the speaker’s mother bending over him creates a powerful and tender visual. This moment of care and affection is brought to life through phrases like "regard the darling dreamers" and "bending o’er me," which evoke a sense of warmth and protection.

Alliteration: The repetition of the "d" sound in "darling dreamers" adds a soft, gentle rhythm to the line, reflecting the soothing and nurturing nature of the memory.

Personification: The rain is described as playing a "refrain" upon the shingles, personifying it as a musician creating a melody. This not only adds a lyrical quality to the poem but also ties the natural sounds of the rain to the emotional and nostalgic experience of the speaker.

Metaphor: The rain's patter is likened to a musical refrain, suggesting that it is repetitive and comforting, much like a lullaby or a familiar tune that brings back memories.

Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "as she used long years agone" emphasizes the passage of time and the enduring nature of these memories. It underscores the idea that, despite the years that have passed, the memory of the speaker’s mother remains vivid and influential.

Analysis

The stanza shifts the focus from the speaker’s immediate sensory experience of the rain to a deeply personal and nostalgic memory of his mother. The rain acts as a trigger for this memory, connecting the present moment with a cherished past. The image of the mother "regard[ing] the darling dreamers" suggests a sense of safety and love, as she watches over her children until morning.

This memory of maternal care is not only comforting but also bittersweet, as it is set against the backdrop of the mother having "left them till the dawn." The rain's patter, likened to a refrain, reinforces the cyclical nature of these memories, suggesting that they are continually revisited whenever it rains.

Overall, this stanza highlights the theme of memory and the enduring impact of maternal love. The rain serves as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing the speaker to relive moments of comfort and affection. Through this connection, the poem explores the idea that certain sounds and sensations can evoke powerful emotional responses, reminding us of our deepest connections and experiences.

Summary of the Poem Childhood by Markus Natten

The poem "Childhood" by Markus Natten reflects on the poet's realization of losing his innocence and the inevitable transition from childhood to adulthood. Through a series of rhetorical questions, he recalls moments when he became aware of adult hypocrisies, the limitations of knowledge, and his own individuality. He questions if his childhood ended when he realized that concepts like Hell and Heaven were not tangible, or when he noticed adults often did not live up to the ideals of love they preached. Another turning point may have been his realization that he could think independently, with thoughts unique to him alone. Ultimately, Natten concludes that his childhood has gone to a "forgotten place," preserved only in the innocent face of an infant, symbolizing a lost phase that cannot be retrieved.

Analysis

Markus Natten’s poem "Childhood" is a contemplative exploration of innocence, disillusionment, and the journey toward self-awareness. Through introspective questions, Natten captures the elusive nature of childhood and reflects on how growing up often entails losing certain illusions, accepting the flaws of others, and embracing one’s individuality.

In the first stanza, the poet ponders if childhood ended when he ceased to believe in the literal existence of Heaven and Hell, realizing they aren’t geographical locations. This moment represents a loss of innocence, as he learns that not all concepts are as concrete or discoverable as he once imagined. The poet uses the metaphor of Heaven and Hell to symbolize the simplicity of a child's worldview, which begins to fragment with the complexities of adulthood.

The second stanza reflects a deeper, more personal disillusionment as he observes the contradictions in adult behavior. Natten criticizes the way adults often preach ideals, such as love, yet fail to act according to those ideals. This observation marks a critical moment in his development, as he starts to see the inconsistency between words and actions in the adult world. The loss here is not just innocence but also the trust in authority figures, marking a shift from a simplistic view of adults as perfect role models to a more nuanced, and perhaps disillusioned, understanding.

In the third stanza, Natten moves from external observations to an internal awakening. He recognizes his own ability to think independently, which suggests a pivotal transition from childhood to maturity. This autonomy of thought represents a key feature of adulthood—the understanding that one's mind is separate from others, capable of forming personal judgments and opinions. This moment captures the essence of self-discovery, as he understands that his mind is "his own," marking a significant step in the journey toward self-identity.

The final lines convey a sense of nostalgia as the poet wonders where his childhood went, concluding that it resides in “some forgotten place,” symbolized by the innocence in an infant’s face. This metaphor suggests that childhood, once lost, can only be seen but never reclaimed, reinforcing the inevitability and irreversibility of growing up. The poet's tone here is one of melancholy, as he longs for a simpler, unblemished phase of life that he now perceives as distant.

Through reflective language and poignant imagery, Natten's "Childhood" captures the bittersweet experience of growing up. The poem delves into universal themes, illustrating how maturation involves both the loss of innocence and the gain of self-awareness, a journey marked by both enlightenment and a subtle sadness for what can no longer be retained.