“As One Listens To The Rain” by Octavio Paz.

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/as-one-listens-to-the-rain/

  Octavio Paz was born on March first, 1914 in Mexico City and is a very important poet from the 20th century. He has recieved several awards, including the 1990 Nobel Prize in Literature.

  Speaker- The speaker is talking about someone he/she knows. They are reflecting on their relationship with this person.

 

   Imagery- The speaker’s imagery focuses around the metaphor of rain as a calming, positive presence; “light footsteps, thin drizzle, water that is air, air that is time,”. Paz uses the imagery of the sound of rain or the cool feeling of raindrops on skin to describe a person. Another example is “Wet asphalt is shining,”, which appeals to sight and touch.

  Figurative Language- Paz’s poem frequently uses metaphor, using weather to describe a relationship.  He describes rain as a sort of omniscient being or presence in his partner “you are you and your body of steam, you and your face of night, you and your hair, unhurried lighting,”. It’s almost as if he sees his partner in the rain, or the rain in his partner. It symbolizes the nature of their relationship; sometimes it’s tranquil like soft rain, and sometimes it’s violent and dramatic, like a thunderstorm.He also uses personification to describe the storm: “Steam rises and walks away,” “It is the night, asleep in your bed,”

  Tone- The tone is melancholic and dramatic, feeling calming at first but then bringing suspense later in the poem. The poem feels like a rainy day; reflective and contemplative. The speaker is reflecting on events that have already happened.

  Theme-  Relationships have ups and downs. I think this theme fits the poem because the speaker is reflecting on an unpleasant even in a resigned tone.

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/browse-poems-poets