And I rose In rainy autumn And walked abroad in a shower of all my days
___ is a notable literary work by ___. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of ___.
Answer
Explain the following lines:- “And I rose / In rainy autumn / And walked abroad in a shower of all my days.” [NU: 2018]
These wonderful lines are from Dylan Thomas’s (1914-1953) “Poem in October,” written in 1944. The poet says these lines as he walks in the countryside early in the morning on his thirtieth birthday. It is October, and Autumn rain is falling. The mentioned lines connect Autumn rain with the poet’s memories.
It is the poet’s thirtieth birthday. He wakes up early in the morning to have a walk. The town is still sleeping. The poet is enjoying the beautiful sights and sounds of nature. He hears the sounds of the seashore and nearby woods. He hears the sound of boats, all the sea birds, and forest birds. He also sees a hunting heron dive into the water. Nature seems to welcome him on his thirtieth birthday. Early in this Autumn morning, it is also raining. So, the poet says: “And I rose / In rainy autumn.” The rain is showering down on the poet.
The “shower of all my days” has a symbolic meaning. It is not only rain, but also the memories of his life. As he walks, it feels like all his past days are falling around him like raindrops. The rain is a trigger for memories of childhood, youth, and earlier birthdays of the poet. This shows how the weather can bring back our memories. Then, the poet climbs a nearby hill. The bright sunlight, woods, river, and sea bring back his childhood memories. He remembers walking with his mother.
Hence, Dylan Thomas uses the image of a rainy autumn morning to show both the natural beauty and his feelings. The “shower” is both real rain and a flow of memories.