Summer Rain

I stayed in the field though the rain was
          beginning to fall
While the whips of lightning were
          cracking above my head
And watched the rain fingers lift my
          sun-beaten corn
With the grace of a miracle bringing
          life to the dead.

It was none of my doing and yet I felt
          like a god
Bestowing his pity and strength in the
          way he designed.
Then the feeling passed and I stood
          there drenched to the skin
Trying to keep the picture deep in my
          mind.

    Original Citation

    Independent 26 (Feb. 1927) 244.

    Word Count
    86
    Original Publication
    Date Published
    1927
    Complete Poems
    29
    Variant

    A revision and retitling of the previously published "Beauty."

    I stayed in the field though the rain was beginning to fall
    While the whips of lightning were cracking above my head
    And watched the rain fingers lift my sun-beaten corn
    Like Christ in a miracle bringing life to the dead.

    It was none of my doing and yet I felt like a god
    Bestowing his pity and strength in the way he designed.
    Then the feeling passed and I stood there drenched to the skin
    Trying to etch the picture deep in my mind.

    Theme(s)
    First Line
    I stayed in the field though the rain was
    Poetic Form
    open
    Bibliographic Notes

    Published as "Beauty" in 1927

    Twitter Quote
    the rain fingers lift my / sun-beaten corn