Song Of The Rain

( Originally Published 1922 )

LONG time I lay in my bed listening to J the rain. In the hushed quiet of night, in the solemn darkness, my heart ceased its beatings to listen. There was naught in the world but my heart and the rain.

My soul awoke at the song of the rain, drenching through the trees, pattering on the roof, filling my chamber with coolness and the sense of a mystic presence. My soul awoke and deemed that it was the pause before the End.

Long I lay still in the darkness, hearing the song of the rain; feeling upon me and through-out me the balm and blessing of the rain; telling myself that if this were the End, it could not better be. My soul was all attention, eager to catch the word of its fate, my heart ceased its throbbing to listen—there was naught in the world but the rain and my heart.

What was the burden of the song of the rain that I heard as I lay still in my bed, wrapt in the solemn darkness, feeling as I shall feel in the pause before the End? What was the burden of the song of the rain which my soul awoke to hear and for which my heart stopped its beating?

Peace was the burden of the song of the rain that I heard in the deep of night when my soul thrilled like a wind-harp in the breath of God. Peace was the burden of the song of the rain.

Now have I put away all strife and anger and unrest since there came this wondrous mes-sage of the rain, the night and the silence. Now do I bear a quiet heart since my soul trembled like a wind-harp in the breath of God.

Peace for all the days that yet are mine when often I shall lie awake in the night silence, listening to the song of the rain.

Peace forevermore when my soul shall be drawn into the breath of God and my body mingled at last with the balm and blessing of the rain.

Peace forevermore !