Walt Whitman’s poem “The Voice of the Rain” uses several poetic techniques to create a vivid and metaphorical description of rain. Here are some notable examples:
Personification: The poem treats the rain as if it were a person. It gives the rain a voice and the ability to speak and describe its own journey. This allows the reader to connect with the rain on a more personal level and understand its importance.
Metaphor: The poem compares rain to a “Poem of Earth” and a “song of the poet.” This comparison highlights the rain’s life cycle and its role in nourishing the earth, similar to how a poem or a song can express and inspire.
Imagery: The poem uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the rain’s journey, from its rise as vapor from the land to its descent as a “soft-falling shower” that “washes the droughts.” This imagery helps readers visualize the rain and feel its presence.
Hyperbole: The poem uses an exaggeration when it describes the sea as “bottomless.” This emphasizes the vastness and seemingly endless cycle of water that the rain participates in.
Parallelism: The poem uses Parallelism, particularly in the last two lines, where the rain’s song is directly compared to the song of the poet. This parallel structure reinforces the connection between the rain’s natural voice and the human voice of poetry.
And then I deluge the land, till what was dry is wet,
And from the drenched heart of the earth, as from the poet's soul,
The singing of the Springtime wells up clear and strong.
These techniques, combined with the poem’s rhythm and use of archaic words, create a unique and powerful voice for the rain, allowing it to share its story and significance with the reader.