‘Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.’ — American novelist and poet, John Updike
DO you complain about the rain? Many years ago, I used to do so because I hated getting my feet and shoes wet. That was until a friend kindly pointed out that it was wrong for me to do so.
“Be thankful for the rain. You may not like the rain but farmers welcome it because it is crucial for the growth of their crops and water sources,” she said.
After that short lecture on the importance of rain to farmers, I don’t complain about the rain anymore.
I’m happy when it rains. Never mind if I have to drive through puddles of water on the roads or use the windshield wipers until I reach home.
Early yesterday afternoon, it rained for a while in Kuching, causing jams in certain parts of the city. Out shopping with my niece, her boyfriend and a relative, it took me a while to reach home.
Once home, I fed my dogs and cat and quickly got ready for work. Needless to say, I was late. Nevertheless, I was happy it rained because I did not have to water the plants in my garden last night.
I was, however, a bit confused yesterday afternoon when the rain fell. “Isn’t it the haze season? Why is it raining so heavily? Has the rainy season come?,” I asked myself.
But the cool rain was definitely a welcome change from the heat and humidity that accompanied hazy conditions.
I complained about the rain when I started working.
In retrospect, when I was young, I did not complain about the rain. I accepted it as part of life and I grew up listening to the “Rain, rain go away” song.
The lyrics of the song are “Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. Rain, rain, go away. Little children want to play.”
Yes, when my siblings and I were young, we were not encouraged to play in the rain for fear of getting wet and sick.
As we grew older, whenever there was a downpour, we used umbrellas to stay dry. Never mind that sometimes, we forgot to bring our umbrellas with us when we disembarked from the buses.
Do you know that if you lose an umbrella in a bus, you will never see it again?
Back then, if we kept losing our umbrellas, we ended up with none. Our parents could not keep on buying the parasols for us. So if it rained, we might not be able to go to school after all.
Since time immemorial, villagers who live far from the towns welcome the rain because it provides water for household use, agriculture and livestocks.
As a primary school kid, I used to spend my year-end holidays with my grandparents in a village in Kanowit. Whenever it rained, my grandmother and aunts would work hard as a team to fill all the empty receptacles at home with rainwater. They would collect the rainwater from the rooftop.
Up to this day, whenever I close my eyes, I can see them working hard to store water for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
It is sad to note that in many towns and cities now, few people bother to collect rainwater for drinking, cooking and sanitation. It seems that many townsfolk have become too dependent on piped water supply to their own detriment.
That is why in the urban environment, the sudden loss of tap water can cause significant and even chaos in households.
Without a reliable water supply, basic daily tasks like drinking, cooking, cleaning and using the toilet becomes challenging.
My friends, do you know that the rain is a frequent subject in music because it provides a rich source of imagery and symbolism and evokes a wide range of emotions and experiences?
Rain can symbolise sadness, cleansing, renewal and even a fresh start. This symbolic potential allows songwriters to explore complex themes and ideas.
Rain can also be used to represent the ups and downs of life, the challenges we face and the eventual return of better times.
Many people also have personal experiences associated with rain, whether it’s a favourite memory of a rainy day of a feeling of solace during a storm. This personal connection can translate into powerful songwriting.
Do you have any favourite songs that use rain as a central theme or metaphor? For me, they are “Purple Rain” by Prince, “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Revival and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” by B.J. Thomas.
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain”, written by John Fogerty, was released as a single in 1971. Listening to it today, it is hard to believe so much water has flowed under the bridge.
I guess it is a classic song due to its timeless themes, relatable lyrics and catchy melody.
My friends, if it rains today, don’t complain. Be happy — just like me and the farmers.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com.
