Unrequited — Summary

I hand out umbrellas every day My tears rain down endlessly Because people would rather get soaked.

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The speaker spends every day offering umbrellas, a small act of care meant to keep other people dry. Nobody seems to want them. The title, "Unrequited," suggests the umbrellas stand in for love or affection that goes unreturned, though the poem never says so outright. That is an inference from the title and imagery rather than something stated.

The second line carries the real hurt. While the speaker gives comfort away, their own tears fall "endlessly," so the one offering shelter is the one who needs it. The last line explains the sadness plainly: people would rather get soaked. They choose discomfort over accepting what is offered, and that refusal stings.

The mood is quiet, wistful, and a little bleak. The language is simple and the lines are short, which makes the loneliness feel gentle but hard to escape. There is no anger here, just a speaker who keeps giving and keeps being turned down.

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