April is Poetry Month!

Read the following poem and answer the questions on a separate piece of paper to be turned in in class.  If you have any questions about the poem, please post them as a comment.

The Gladness of Nature

by John Greenleaf Whittier

Is this a time to be cloudy and sad, When our Mother Nature laughs around, When even the deep blue heavens look glad, And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground? There are notes of joy from the hangbird and wren, And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; The ground squirrel gayly chirps by his den, And the wilding bee hums merrily by. The clouds are at play in the azure space, And their shadows at play on the bright green vale, And here they stretch to the frolic chase, And there they roll on the easy gale. There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower; There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree; There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles On the dewy earth that smiles in his ray, On the leaping waters and gay young isles, Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away. Questions What season is described here? What are the signs that Nature is glad? How do all these things affect the poet? How do you sometimes feel on a cold, rainy day? What signs of gladness are mentioned in the first two stanzas? Which of these have you seen in springtime? Have you ever seen clouds that seemed to chase one another? What is meant by "a laugh from the brook"? What does the poet say the sun will do for us? Do you think spring is "a time to be cloudy and sad"? Why? Why do city boys and girls like to visit the country?