From "The Treasured Writings of Kahlil Gibran"

This poem reminds me of a soft summers rain that I walked in when I was single. The day had started out sunny, I was alone and had decided to go for a walk. I was at Ft. Meade, and there was a golf course that provided a nice walking area. Had to watch out for the golfers though.

But clouds rolled in, and a gentle rain fell. I was wet, but I didn't want to go back to the barracks. So I continued walking. It wasn't lightening or thundering, and some of the trees were big-I did end up taking shelter for awhile and watching the rain fall.

The sound of the rain was gentle, and that is the feeling I got reading this poem. But rain is powerful. It joins heaven and earth, it conquers earth overtime, and then leaves us with a rainbow, and growing things-trees, flowers, food. It gives strength, and takes it away-It comes from the sea and the heat of the air and becomes more powerful all the stronger.

One thing I don't agree with in the poem is where Gibran compares the rain gaining strength from the warm air and sea and a woman gaining strength from a man. Woman doesn't "gain" strength from a man. We have our own strength as individuals, and as long as we are not beaten beyond our capacity to bear, our strength is ours. Support from a partner is not the giving of strength one way, but by the giving of emotional support as needed by the other. And in a true relationship it goes both ways.