An April Rain Song

Summary


"An April Rain Song" by Langston Hughes invites readers to embrace the rain not as something to avoid but as a tender, musical presence. The poem personifies rain as a gentle singer — kissing, beating softly, and playing a sleep tune on rooftops at night. Through still pools on sidewalks and running rivulets in gutters, Hughes finds wonder in the ordinary sounds and sights of a rainy day, building to a simple, heartfelt declaration of love for the rain itself.

Listen to audio



Read Online

LET the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head
With silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
With its pitty-pat.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep tune
On our roof at night,
And I love the rain.

Credits

Langston Hughes was an American poet and central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, celebrated for his lyrical, accessible verse that captured everyday Black American life and emotion. "An April Rain Song" showcases his gift for finding music in the mundane, using the gentle rhythms of rainfall to create an almost lullaby-like effect.