Modern-day Commentary
This is from a collection of poems entitled Timelines, which I submitted in the spring of my sophomore year. As I flipped through the mostly fluffy poems, this one startled me. At first it appeared to be mumbo-jumbo, completely unrelated to anything I’d gone through. But, on multiple readings, and the interpretation of the dual use of the phrase “I am the rain”, I have determined that it is written from the vantage point of a child who has tried to keep the family together, going beyond his abilities. He wanted to be life-giving rain, but in the end feels he was no more than life-ending rain. I suppose now that it was inspired by a few rocky patches at that point in my family, but fortunately these visions didn’t portend anything serious on the horizon. It’s just about the most depressing piece I’ve ever written. The underlined phrases were required elements that needed to be included in the collection.
The Primary Source
Web-Friendly Text
“Age, Death”
From Timelines
English
January 29, 1993
Ms. Cavanagh
Why did you go?
What made you leave?
I’m left all alone,
Here in my room.
Without you.
This is the time when I go to bed,
But you’re not here.
How could you do this to me?
You’ll never see me growing.
Growing.
Now I know,
Your candle has stopped its beautiful burning
And I am the rain.
If only I hadn’t made you go out
We still might be laughing.
But there is no happiness
Because of me.
You were the flower,
That shouldn’t have wilted
Because I am the rain.
I tried to keep your petals strong.
But some things cannot be stopped.
We’ll always remember you.
I love you so much.