Thunderstorms

W.H. (William Henry) Davies (1870–1940)

Thunderstorms [1916]

My mind has thunderstorms,

That brood for heavy hours:

Until they rain me words;

My thoughts are drooping flowers

And sulking, silent birds.

Yet come, dark thunderstorms,

And brood your heavy hours;

For when you rain me words,

My thoughts are dancing flowers

And joyful singing birds.

Questions for Discussion

1. The metaphor in line 4 of the poem, “My thoughts are drooping flowers,”

A) conveys the speaker’s enthusiastic attitude for his work.

B) shows how inclement weather brings joy to the speaker.

C) illustrates that the speaker feels uninspired to create.

D) indicates that the speaker expects more annoyances.

2. The poet most likely wrote this poem in two equal stanzas

A) to show similarities between a rainy day and a sunny day.

B) to contrast a negative beginning to a positive result.

C) to explain that flowers grow better in wet weather.

D) to emphasize important ideas through repetition.