THE RAINY DAY – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Because this poem appears rather bleak and possess a mature vocabulary, there are some that might think it not suitable for children, but I would disagree. It has a wonderful “moral” if you will… “Some days must be dark and dreary”. However, Longfellow also points out… “Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.” I distinctly remember having this poem read to me in 1st grade by my teacher, Mrs. Nelson. She loved poetry and read us many “grown-up” poems, mixed in with the more traditional nursery rhymes often offered to 6 year olds. I love Mrs. Nelson for sharing these poems with us at such an early age. It fostered an appreciation for well crafted words. Of course, I certainly did not understand this poem like I do today, but I think it is wonderful to share mature poetry with children. It’s like playing classical music in the background while children are creating, instead of childish ditties. In time, children will come to understand the words, and when they do, the poems will already be life long friends.

And, as children are stuck indoors during dark and dreary rain storms this spring or autumn, depending upon where you live, they can be reminded that “Into each life some rain must fall” but to be of good cheer because “behind the clouds is the sun still shining”, and when it is safe to go outside, they may don their awesome rain boots, and stomp in puddles and shake clinging raindrops from bush and branch! 

Today’s coloring page is based on our FREE Flowered Rain Boots Applique.

The Flowered Rain Boots Coloring Page can be found HERE.  

The Flowered Rain Boots Applique can be found HERE.

The March Applique Collection can be found HERE.

The Coloring Page Gallery can be found HERE.