"smell of the ground,..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
The phrase “smell of the ground” suggests sensuousness and close proximity. The subtly of the “soft” sounds of the rain and the smell of the ground require a sensory attentiveness. The narrator invites us to connect with the natural world physically and sensorily. The soft, subtle consonances across the line—particularly s,r and l sounds—require the reader to listen with care, as they would the rain itself.
Teasdale wrote this poem in loose, iambic pentameter with a few tetrameter couplets towards the end. The poem has a rhyme scheme AA BB CC DD EE FF, creating a very symmetrical structure that reminds the reader of the cyclical continuity of nature. This theme pervades throughout the poem.
"swallows circling with their shimmering sound..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Teasdale uses alliteration (the repetition of consonant sounds) throughout the entirety of the poem. Along with the repetitive rhyming couplets, Teasdale’s alliteration creates a kind of symmetrical and consistent tone, calling to mind the sound of “soft” rain.
