AND SOFTLY FALLS THE SUMMER RAIN
Poetry often tries to speak through images and sounds to the heart, rather than simply
making a prosaic statement. In this it shares a little of the nature of music which, in its
purely instrumental form, can conjure feelings and even a suggestion of images for us
without having any specific prosaic content. This poem was written in summer
in south-east Queensland. Summer there can get intense if it goes without rain or cloud.
Here I have tried to use a natural occurrence to convey something of the general quality
of "blessing".
In form the poem has three stanzas, each having six lines of iambic tetrameter-
unstressed, stressed syllables four times- And softly falls the summer rain.
The Lilly-Pilly is the common name for an Australian berry-bearing bush-
Lilly Pilly trees are native to southern Asia and Madagascar. The highest level of diversity
in Lilly Pilly varieties occur in Malaysia and Australia. The trees thrive on volcanic
soil and deep sandy soils throughout tropical and subtropical coastal rain forest regions.
The berries are a standard bush food staple and are considered a valuable famine food
when other food sources are scarce
. https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Lilly_Pilly_Berries_9395.php
AND SOFTLY FALLS THE SUMMER RAIN
And softly falls the summer rain.
The Lilly-Pilly waves wet leaves.
Far palms are darker on the greyness
of sky wide-tempered by deep cloud
than in the glare and heat of flare
that flames from blue... and cooled is air.
And softly falls the summer rain.
The rising grass has gained white pearls
and snails are venturing abroad.
And cars, occasional, outside
add squelch and hiss to growl and glide.
And ringed by drops, street gutters run.
And after days of furnace sun
and drifts of smoke from heat-hazed hills,
like gentle time with wisdom's gain,
inspired after drought-dry bane,
like calm of balm on yearning's pain,
so softly falls the summer rain.
