Charles Sorley
When the rain is coming down,
And all Court is still and bare,
And the leaves fall wrinkled, brown,
Through the kindly winter air,
And in tattered flannels I
‘Sweat’ beneath a tearful sky,
And the sky is dim and grey,
And the rain is coming down,
And I wander far away
From the little red-capped town:
There is something in the rain
That would bid me to remain:
There is something in the wind
That would whisper, “Leave behind
All this land of time and rules,
Land of bells and early schools.
Latin, Greek and College food
Do you precious little good.
Leave them: if you would be free
Follow, follow, after me!”
When I reach ‘Four Miler’s’ height,
And I look abroad again
On the skies of dirty white
And the drifting veil of rain,
And the bunch of scattered hedge
Dimly swaying on the edge,
And the endless stretch of downs
Clad in green and silver gowns;
There is something in their dress
Of bleak barren ugliness,
That would whisper, “You have read
Of a land of light and glory:
But believe not what is said.
’Tis a kingdom bleak and hoary,
Where the winds and tempests call
And the rain sweeps over all.
Heed not what the preachers say
Of a good land far away.
Here’s a better land and kind
And it is not far to find.”
Therefore, when we rise and sing
Of a distant land, so fine,
Where the bells for ever ring,
And the suns for ever shine:
Singing loud and singing grand,
Of a happy far-off land,
O! I smile to hear the song,
For I know that they are wrong,
That the happy land and gay
Is not very far away,
And that I can get there soon
Any rainy afternoon.
And when summer comes again,
And the downs are dimpling green,
And the air is free from rain,
And the clouds no longer seen:
Then I know that they have gone
To find a new camp further on,
Where there is no shining sun
To throw light on what is done,
Where the summer can’t intrude
On the fort where winter stood:
–Only blown and drenching grasses,
Only rain that never passes,
Moving mists and sweeping wind,
And I follow them behind!
_October 1912_
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem explores the tension between the idealized, far-off world of happiness and permanence, and the raw, unpredictable reality of life as it is, represented by rain, wind, and the open land. The speaker expresses a yearning for a freedom that transcends the constraints of society, formal education, and prescribed rules, embodied in the imagery of wandering through the elements.
From the outset, the repeated mention of the rain sets a melancholic tone, suggesting that this weather symbolizes both escape and melancholy. The rain isn’t just an environmental detail but becomes an invitation or a summons to something deeper—perhaps a release from the structures of “Latin, Greek and College food,” which the speaker dismisses as irrelevant and unsatisfying. The rain seems to pull the speaker away from the life he knows, urging him to leave behind the “little red-capped town” and the “land of time and rules.”
As the speaker ventures higher, the view expands to “the endless stretch of downs,” a vast, wild, and untamed landscape that stands in contrast to the order and certainty of the town. The land is described as “bleak” and “barren,” and yet it seems to promise a form of liberation, where “the winds and tempests call,” offering a stark alternative to the more conventional, idealized land of “light and glory” that is often spoken of in song and story. The speaker rejects these distant, utopian promises, choosing instead the rugged, raw landscape before him, suggesting that true freedom and meaning are found not in distant dreams but in the world as it is, with all its imperfection and unpredictability.
The contrast between the idealized “distant land” and the speaker’s own perspective grows clearer as the poem unfolds. When others sing of a perfect, eternal land where “the bells for ever ring,” the speaker smiles knowingly, aware that their vision is a fantasy. This stance doesn’t suggest mere cynicism but a deeper understanding that the true essence of life is found in embracing the present, with all its rain and wind. This acceptance of life as it is, without the need for perfection or idealization, echoes throughout the poem.
The closing lines bring the poem full circle, as the speaker finds that even in the idealized land of summer and sunshine, there will always be a new journey, a new struggle. The land of comfort and warmth is a temporary illusion—soon to be replaced by the “moving mists and sweeping wind” of another challenge. The rain and the wind, which seem to have called him away at the start, now represent a constant and ever-present force that he follows, suggesting that the journey of life—however tough and uncertain—continues relentlessly, offering its own rewards for those willing to embrace its hardships.
Ultimately, the poem is about finding meaning in the mundane and the harsh realities of life, rejecting the idealized fantasies that often keep people from engaging with the world around them. The speaker’s connection to the land, the elements, and the rhythms of nature reflects a desire for a life that is authentic and unfiltered—one that doesn’t seek escape but rather embraces what is real, even when it is drenched in rain.