Art of Language Lesson 11: PLACE, page 2

Read the four poems below. Actually read them. No skimming.

CHOOSE ONE POEM.

1 — Write down one phrase that works well for you.

2 — Write down three words that work well for you.

3 — Write down an alternative title for the poem that is ABOUT THE PLACE it discusses.

—

The Blackbird

by Humbert Wolfe

In the far corner,

close by the swings,

every morning

a blackbird sings.

 

His bill’s so yellow,

his coat’s so black,

that he makes a fellow

whistle back.

 

Ann, my daughter,

thinks that he

sings for us two

especially.

—

Pippa’s Song

by Robert Browning

The year’s at the spring,

And day’s at the morn;

Morning’s at seven;

The hill-side’s dew-pearled;

The lark’s on the wing;

The snail’s on the thorn:

God’s in his heaven -

All’s right with the world!

—

Pied Beauty

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Glory be to God for dappled things –

For skies of couple-colour as a brindled cow;

For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;

Fresh-fiercoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;

Landscape plotted and pierced – fold, fallow, and plough;

And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

 

All things counter, original, spare, strange;

Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)

With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;

He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:

Praise him.

—

Winter Morning

by Ogden Nash

Winter is the king of showmen

Turning tree stumps into snow men

And houses into birthday cakes

And spreading sugar over the lakes.

Smooth and clean and frost white

The world looks good enough to bite.

That’s the season to be young,

Catching snowflakes on your tongue.

 

Snow is snowy when it’s snowing

I’m sorry it’s slushy when it’s going.