After a day of rain, the world feels washed clean and still. The speaker imagines the night sky as a nursery: stars are babies playing, and the moon is their nurse. The breeze and clouds that earlier hid the moon have gone quiet, as if locked away in a mountain cave. Now the moon opens the western door of the sky and hands the golden sun to the children of night like a glowing toy. The poem has a hushed, magical quality, like a bedtime story or lullaby. The speaker seems to look at dawn with childlike wonder, turning an ordinary clearing of weather into a gentle, joyful moment. The mood is calm, tender, and full of soft light.
Gone Yesterday's Rain — Summary
Gone yesterday's rain; Star-babies play in heaven; The breeze that with clouds Stole the moon, lies in chains In the mountain's dark cavern.
The golden children of night Raise their arms in joy, As the moon-nurse opens The nursery door of West, And gives these the golden sun for toy.