"Rainstorm" follows a single storm from its first warning signs to its quiet aftermath. The speaker begins by noticing grey clouds and a few scattered drops, then watches the wind rise and lightning flash across the sky. Once the downpour arrives, the poem fills with comparisons: rain on asphalt looks like grass sprouting, puddles become "mirror worlds," and passing tires seem to surf through water as fierce as ocean waves.
The speaker seems fascinated rather than afraid. Even the lightning, described as vicious leviathans, reads as thrilling more than threatening, and the sound of the rain becomes a "symphony." The mood shifts near the end. The storm "comes to an end," warmth lifts moisture from the ground, and the final line, "Now, the world smells cleaner," feels calm and satisfied. The poem suggests that a storm, for all its noise and drama, leaves things refreshed.