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 All day that soft, gray mist hath wrapped 2 There has not been a sound today 3 Of waving bough, or warbling bird, 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, 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 77 That lilac's cleaving cones have burst, 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 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 Does this poem describe an April day in the city or in the country? Give reasons for your answer. What did the clouds drop all day? Read lines from the third stanza which tell how quiet everything was. How can you explain this quiet? Read lines which tell that the leaves were just coming out. Read the lines which tell the changes which the author noticed in her flowers. What caused the changes? What are the "sweets" of the lilac? What color were the lilac flowers in this garden? What is meant by the "cones' of the lilacs? Read the lines which tell of the gleam of sunshine in that day of rain. Why is it called a "parting" gleam? What word helps you to know that it was a parting gleam? If you did not know the title of this poem, what expressions in it would tell you that this was a spring rain? Read the stanza which you like best. APPLE BLOSSOMS WILLIAM WESLEY MARTIN William Wesley Martin is not a well-known author, but his "Apple Blossoms' presents a picture of such rare beauty and charm that his name will long be remembered in literature. 1 Have you seen an apple orchard in the spring? In the spring? An English apple orchard in the spring? When the spreading trees are hoary With their wealth of promised glory, And the mavis pipes his story In the spring! 2 Have you plucked the apple blossoms in the spring? And caught their subtle odors in the spring? Pink buds bursting at the light, Crumpled petals baby-white, Just to touch them a delight! In the spring! 3 Have you walked beneath the blossoms in the spring? In the spring? Beneath the apple blossoms in the spring? When the pink cascades were falling, And the silver brooklets brawling, And the cuckoo bird is calling In the spring? HH C |