Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jorge Luis Borges' poem "Rain" is a delicate meditation on memory, time, and the powerful, often involuntary associations that certain sensory experiences—like the sound of rain—can evoke. Through the simple and familiar imagery of rain, Borges explores the complex interplay between the present moment and the past, suggesting that rain itself is an event that exists both in the here and now and in the realm of memory.

The poem opens with a sudden clarity in the evening, as the rain begins to fall: "Quite suddenly the evening clears at last / As now outside the soft small rain is falling." The rain, described as "soft" and "small," is gentle and almost unnoticeable at first, but its impact is profound. Borges immediately situates the rain within the past, stating, "Rain itself is something / Undoubtedly which happens in the past." This paradoxical statement suggests that the experience of rain is inherently tied to memory; the moment we hear it, we are transported back to other times and places where we encountered it before.

Borges continues by exploring the nature of this connection between rain and memory: "Whoever hears it falling has remembered / A time in which a curious twist of fate / Brought back to him a flower whose name was 'rose' / And the perplexing redness of its red." The act of hearing the rain triggers memories, not just of the rain itself, but of other sensory experiences and emotions. The "curious twist of fate" that brings back the memory of a rose and its "perplexing redness" speaks to the unpredictable and sometimes mysterious ways in which memories are recalled. The redness of the rose is "perplexing" because it is both vivid and elusive, a detail that is clear yet difficult to fully grasp, much like the memories themselves.

The poem then shifts to a broader reflection on the rain's ability to connect the present with the past: "This rain which spreads its blind across the pane / Must also brighten in forgotten suburbs / The black grapes on a vine across a shrouded / Patio now no more." Here, Borges imagines the rain touching forgotten places, "forgotten suburbs," and reviving memories of things that have long since disappeared. The image of the "black grapes on a vine across a shrouded / Patio now no more" evokes a sense of nostalgia for a past that is gone, yet somehow preserved in the memory, brought back to life by the sound of rain.

In the final lines of the poem, Borges personalizes this experience of memory, as the evening rain "Brings me the voice, the dear voice of my father, / Who comes back now, who never has been dead." The sound of the rain conjures the memory of Borges' father, whose voice is vividly recalled as if he were still alive. The phrase "who never has been dead" suggests that through memory, his father's presence is timeless and enduring, transcending the physical reality of death. Borges captures the way in which memories, especially those tied to loved ones, can be so powerful and immediate that they feel as if they are still part of the present.

"Rain" by Borges is a beautiful and contemplative exploration of how sensory experiences, particularly the sound of rain, can trigger deep and personal memories, blurring the lines between the past and the present. The poem reflects on the nature of memory, the persistence of the past in our lives, and the way in which loved ones, though gone, continue to live on through the memories we carry. Borges' simple yet evocative language creates a poignant meditation on time, loss, and the enduring power of memory.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...