The genial rain ambrosia call;
The World but lasts while rain shall fall.
The rain begets the food we eat;
And forms a food and drink concrete.
Let clouds their visits stay, and dearth
Distresses all the sea-girt earth.
Unless the fruitful shower descend,
The ploughman's sacred toil must end.
Destruction it may sometimes pour,
But only rain can life restore.
No grassy blade its head will rear,
If from the cloud no drop appear.
The ocean's wealth will waste away,
Except the cloud its stores repay.
The earth, beneath a barren sky,
Would offerings for the gods deny.
Were heaven above to fail below
Nor alms nor penance earth would show.
Water is life that comes from rain
Sans rain our duties go in vain.
THE BLESSING OF RAIN
