From what places has the snow retreated?

Where does it still linger ?

What are the "fountains" of which the poet speaks?

What tells you that the ploughboy feels happy?

What comparison is made in the last stanza?

Words and Phrases for Discussion

"The green field sleeps in the "Blue sky prevailing"

sun",

THE VOICE OF SPRING

MARY HOWITT

Mary Howitt (1804-1888), an English poet, was the wife of William Howitt, the poet and author. She was a Quakeress. She has written many beautiful poems for children.

1

I am coming, little maiden,
With the pleasant sunshine laden;
With the honey for the bee;

With the blossom for the tree;

With the flower and with the leaf;
Till I come the time is brief.

2

I am coming, I am coming!
Hark! the little bee is humming;
See! the lark is soaring high
In the bright and sunny sky,
And the gnats are on the wing
Little maiden, now is spring.

3

See the yellow catkins cover
All the slender willows over ;

Caroline B. Southey (1786-1854), an English poet, was the wife of Robert Southey. She wrote many beautiful poems, "An April Day" being one of her best.

1

All day the low-hung clouds have dropped
Their garnered fullness down;

All day that soft, gray mist hath wrapped
Hill, valley, grove, and town.

2

There has not been a sound today

To break the calm of nature;
Nor motion, I might almost say,
Of life, or living creature;

3

Of waving bough, or warbling bird,
Or cattle faintly lowing:

I could have half believed I heard
The leaves and blossoms growing.

4

I stood to hear-I love it well

The rain's continuous sound;

Small drops, but thick and fast they fell,
Down straight into the ground.

5

For leafy thickness is not yet,

Earth's naked breast to screen; Though every dripping branch is set With shoots of tender green.

6

Sure, since I looked at early morn,

Those honeysuckle buds

Have swelled to double growth; that thorn
Hath put forth larger studs.

77

That lilac's cleaving cones have burst,
The milk-white flowers revealing;

Even now, upon my senses first

Methinks their sweets are stealing.

8

The very earth, the steamy air,

Is all with fragrance rife;

And grace and beauty everywhere
Are bursting into life.

9

Down, down they come-those fruitful stores,

Those earth rejoicing drops!

A momentary deluge pours,

Then thins, decreases, stops.

10

And ere the dimples on the stream
Have circled out of sight,

Lo! from the west a parting gleam
Breaks forth, of amber light.

But yet behold-abrupt and loud, Comes down the glittering rain; The farewell of a passing cloud, The fringes of her train.

HELPS TO STUDY

Notes and Questions