I’d watched the sorrow of the evening sky,
And smelt the sea, and earth, and the warm clover,
And heard the waves, and the sea-gull’s mocking cry.
And in them all was only the old cry,
That song they always sing—“The best is over!
You may remember now, and think, and sigh,
O silly lover!”
And I was tired and sick that all was over.
And because I,
For all my thinking, never could recover
One moment of the good hours that were over.
And I was sorry and sick, and wished to die.
Then from the sad west turning wearily,
I saw the pines against the white north sky,
Very beautiful, and still, and bending over
Their sharp black heads against a quiet sky.
And there was peace in them; and I
Was happy, and forgot to play the lover.
And laughed, and did no longer wish to die;
Being glad of you, O pine-trees and the sky!
( Rupert Brooke )
Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) was born in Rugby, England. When the World War broke out, he gave up his advanced studies at Cambridge University to become Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and accompanied the Antwerp Expeditionary Force in October, 1914. In February, 1915, he sailed with the British Mediterranean Force, to take part in the Dardanelles Campaign. Because of an attack of blood-poisoning he was removed from the transport to a French hospital, where he died very suddenly on April 23. He lies buried on the Greek island of Skyros. His poems appear under the titles, 1914 and Other Poems and Collected Poems.
mocking : copying, making fun of something or someone
recover : to become better again
Answer the following questions.
1) Why did the poet think the evening sky had cause for sorrow?
2) Why did the setting sun bring the thought that “the best is over”?
3) How did the seagull’s cry make the poet feel?
4) Why did he feel strong when he looked at the white sky and quiet trees?
5) How does this poem make you feel? Why?