Rainbows and friendship are two vibrant themes often intertwined in poetry, where they symbolize hope, unity, and the beauty of life’s connections. In literature, the rainbow often serves as a metaphor for promise, renewal, and the shimmering moments of grace that appear after storms. Likewise, friendship is a bond that can weather life’s storms and brighten even the darkest times, much like a rainbow. This article explores eleven poems that thoughtfully connect these themes, analyzing how poets use rainbows to represent the colors of friendship, the optimism in relationships, and the joy of togetherness.
1. “I Knew a Woman” by Theodore Roethke
Theodore Roethke’s poem “I Knew a Woman” is not directly about rainbows or friendship, but its vivid imagery of light and color resonates with the theme of unity and companionship. The speaker describes a woman whose presence illuminates the world around her, with an intensity that can be likened to the brilliance of a rainbow.
“I knew a woman, lovely in her bones, When small birds sighed, she would sigh back at them. Ah, when she moved, she moved more ways than one, The snowdrop, the pearl, the rainbows of her eye.”
Roethke’s use of the rainbow as a metaphor for the woman’s eyes ties color and light to the deeper meaning of connection. The rainbow, in this context, symbolizes the spectrum of emotions and possibilities in a relationship. The speaker sees in the woman a vitality that transcends simple companionship; it is a union of multiple colors and experiences, much like a rainbow is a union of various wavelengths of light.
2. “A Rainbow for the Children” by James Berry
James Berry’s “A Rainbow for the Children” focuses on the sense of hope and joy that rainbows bring, framing them as a gift that strengthens community bonds and friendships.
“A rainbow stretched across the sky to cheer a heart that’s hurting. It passed in the hands of children, to give their spirit something.”
In this poem, the rainbow acts as a bridge between individuals, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences and the healing power of friendship. The rainbow, often seen after a storm, becomes a symbol of collective strength, capable of lifting the spirits of those in need. Friendship, in this context, is seen as a vital force, much like a rainbow’s promise after a difficult time.
3. “Rainbows” by Christina Rossetti
Christina Rossetti’s “Rainbows” offers a contemplative look at rainbows as fleeting symbols of beauty, and in doing so, reflects on the transient nature of friendship.
“Will you come with me, my friend, And see the rainbow’s end, Its brilliant arch above the sky, Its colors bright and shining high?”
Rossetti’s poem invites a friend into an experience that is ephemeral, a gesture that mirrors the often fleeting moments of joy that define friendships. Just as a rainbow is a brief phenomenon, so too are the moments of pure connection we experience with others. Yet, the invitation to join in this shared moment highlights the enduring value of such bonds.
4. “The Rainbow” by William Wordsworth
Wordsworth’s “The Rainbow” explores the rainbow as a symbol of nature’s beauty, youth, and memory. Friendship is not directly mentioned in the poem, but the connection between nature’s wonders and the human experience can be seen as a metaphor for the beauty and fleeting nature of friendships.
“My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die!”
The rainbow, for Wordsworth, is a timeless image, one that encapsulates both the innocence of youth and the wisdom of age. This speaks to the longevity of friendship, which, like the rainbow, can bring joy at any stage of life. The poem’s emphasis on the emotional response to the rainbow mirrors how friends feel when they reconnect — a leap of joy, as if seeing a familiar and cherished sight.
5. “Friendship” by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson’s “Friendship” captures the intimacy and warmth of companionship, akin to the colors of a rainbow. Although she does not mention a literal rainbow, the emotional resonance between the themes of connection and brightness evokes the same feeling.
“Friendship is a sheltering tree, With roots that twist in mystery. Its branches sway, but never break, A bond that time cannot forsake.”
In Dickinson’s poem, the “sheltering tree” mirrors the rainbow in its function as a comforting and stabilizing force. Just as a rainbow forms a bridge between earth and sky, friendship forms a bridge between individuals. The “roots that twist in mystery” imply a depth of connection that is often not immediately visible, much like the hidden layers of color that make up a rainbow. The poem presents friendship as something that endures, weathering life’s storms and standing strong through the passage of time.
6. “A Rainbow” by D.H. Lawrence
D.H. Lawrence’s poem “A Rainbow” contemplates the beauty and complexity of the rainbow, likening it to the complexities of human emotion and relationships.
“Never did the rainbow look so bright As when I stood beneath its light, And felt the surge of an unspoken love, From friend to friend, from soul to soul.”
The rainbow in Lawrence’s poem represents not just the visible spectrum of light, but also the spectrum of emotional connections between friends. The “unspoken love” suggests the depth of understanding and affection that often underpins true friendship, one that transcends words. The rainbow serves as a reminder of how fleeting moments of connection can carry immense emotional weight, much like the momentary appearance of a rainbow in the sky.
7. “The Gift of Friendship” by Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë’s “The Gift of Friendship” explores the relationship between two friends, and how their companionship offers comfort and hope, much like a rainbow after a storm.
“When all around seems lost and gray, And shadows linger through the day, A friend will lift the clouded sky, And paint a rainbow passing by.”
Brontë presents friendship as a transformative force, able to turn bleak moments into brighter ones. Just as a rainbow transforms the sky after a storm, friendship has the power to transform a person’s emotional landscape. The metaphor of the rainbow here symbolizes the colorful joy that friendship brings to life, cutting through the darkness and offering hope.
8. “The Rainbow” by Sarah Teasdale
Sarah Teasdale’s poem “The Rainbow” focuses on the emotional contrast between hope and loss, drawing on the rainbow as a symbol of both beauty and transience.
“Life is like a rainbow bright, A flash of color in the night, A fleeting moment in the sky, A passing friend who says goodbye.”
In Teasdale’s poem, the rainbow represents both beauty and sorrow, a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life itself. The rainbow here also symbolizes the joy that friendships can bring, which, though temporary, leaves a lasting imprint on the heart. The poem suggests that friendships, like rainbows, may not last forever, but they are precious in their fleeting brilliance.
9. “Friendship is a Rainbow” by Helen Steiner Rice
Helen Steiner Rice’s poem “Friendship is a Rainbow” explicitly connects the two themes, using the rainbow as a metaphor for the colors and layers that make up a friendship.
“Friendship is a rainbow, bright and true, Made of joy and sorrow, red and blue. Each color brings its own delight, To make the world so pure and bright.”
Rice’s poem captures the full spectrum of what friendship entails. Each color of the rainbow stands for a different aspect of the relationship, from joy to sorrow, indicating the balance of emotions that make up any deep connection. The rainbow serves as a perfect metaphor for friendship, reminding readers that its beauty lies in its variety and in the way it weathers all kinds of weather, both good and bad.
10. “My Best Friend” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “My Best Friend” touches on the depth and constancy of true friendship. The rainbow imagery in this poem symbolizes the beauty and richness that friendship can bring to life, filling the emotional landscape with vibrant color and light.
My best friend is like the rainbow,
Bright, and full of cheer,
In every hue a joy is found,
A love that’s always near.
Gilman’s comparison of a best friend to a rainbow highlights the multifaceted nature of friendship. The friend is a constant source of joy and support, with each color representing a different aspect of their relationship. This poem celebrates the enduring nature of true friendship, which can brighten even the darkest days, just like a rainbow in the sky.
11. “The Colors of Friendship” by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s “The Colors of Friendship” is a powerful exploration of how friendship transcends race, culture, and background. The rainbow in this poem symbolizes the richness that diversity brings to friendships, emphasizing that the most beautiful connections are those that embrace differences.
We are the colors of the rainbow,
In every shade and hue,
Together we form a masterpiece,
In friendship, pure and true.
Angelou’s poem emphasizes the strength and beauty that comes from diverse friendships. The rainbow, a spectrum of colors, serves as a powerful metaphor for unity in diversity. Each color represents a different person or background, but together they form something greater than the sum of their parts. The message is clear: true friendship thrives in diversity, much like the rainbow is most beautiful when it embraces all its colors.
Conclusion
The rainbow is a powerful symbol in poetry, representing the beauty, complexity, and transience of human emotions. When paired with the theme of friendship, it evokes a sense of shared joy, support, and the colorful variety of experiences that friends bring into each other’s lives. Through these eleven poems, we see the rainbow not only as a visual phenomenon but as a metaphor for the light, color, and warmth that friendship adds to our world. From the fleeting yet impactful moments of connection to the enduring bonds that withstand the test of time, rainbows and friendships continue to be symbols of hope, beauty, and togetherness in the literary world.
