'There Will Come Soft Rains' is titled after the randomly selected poem read by the house, which is an actual poem by Sara Teasdale. The people are gone the house is nearly gone yet the automation somehow continues. As the house collapsed into itself, the rubble still managed to speak, 'Today is August 5, 2026, today is August 5, 2026, today is.' (6). A fire erupts and begins to take over the house despite its best efforts to contain the fire. Soon after finishing the poem, the house begins to die. Would scarcely know that we were gone' (4). Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,Īnd Spring herself, when she woke at dawn Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire Īnd not one will know of the war, not one 'There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,Īnd swallows circling with their shimmering sound The computer chooses a poem at random and begins:

McClellan, 'Which poem would you like this evening?' (4.) Of course, no one responds. As the house prepares itself for night and sleeping, it asks Mrs. It prepares lunch, sets up tables and chairs for bridge, and the nursery readies itself for children's hour. He is deposited into the incinerator in the cellar.ĭespite this unusual event, the house once again continues as usual. When the dog dies and begins to decay, the house's cleaning mice sense it and go into the room to remove the dog. The dog becomes frantic and begins to froth at the mouth, eventually collapsing. The dogs appearance indicates that something drastic has happened to the house's former inhabitants, and the dog goes from door to door of the house looking for its family, but it finds no one. Once 'huge and fleshy,' the dog is now 'gone to bone and covered with sores' (2). It was almost as if the house was paranoid, but it worked until this day.Ī dog entered the house because the house recognized its voice. It carefully asked for the password if anything approached the house, such as foxes or cats, and it shut the windows and drew the shades if a bird flew near the house. This continued vigilance and activity had saved the house from destruction in the past. The weather box continues to give the weather and clothing suggestions. The breakfast stove cooks the typical breakfast: eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, and milk. It is completely encapsulated by rubble and destruction.Įven though it appears that no one is currently living in the house, the house's automated system continues as if nothing has changed. The house is the only house left standing in the surrounding area. The house's voice is clearly meant for someone, but no one is present to listen. Instead, the house is automated, calling out to its supposed inhabitants the time of day and their upcoming activities. The story begins with a house beginning to stir and wake up - but not in the traditional sense.

Ray bradbury house story