The thirsty earth soaks up the rain ; Personifies the earth; the earth has thirst. Does it need or just want the rain? Was the poet watching a rainstorm? What was the view of the earth at this time, were people afraid of its wildness or bent on conquering it ?
And drinks and gapes for drink again ; This for me is after a long run in the summer, when we cannot wait for our water bottles at the end, but rush to the creek and thrust our heads underwater, and open our mouths.
The plants suck the earth, Like infants suckling their pregnant mothers’ nipples; rain is the milk of the earth.