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Oh, to be in England,
Now that April’s there!
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!
And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows!
Hark, where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops—at the bent spray’s edge —
That’s the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine, careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children’s dower,
— Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!
( Robert Browning )
Robert Browning (1812-1889) was born in Camberwell, a suburb of London. His four grandparents were respectively of English, German, Scotch,and Creole birth. His father was fond of writing verses, and his mother was very musical. Browning’s education was gained from a private school in the neighborhood and from tutors at home. In 1846 he married the poet, Elizabeth Barrett, and they lived for years in the old palace, Casa Guidi, in Florence, Italy.After his wife’s death he returned to England, but spent most of his summers abroad. He died in Venice, and is buried in the Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Much of Browning’s poetry is difficult reading. He condenses a great deal of thought into one phrase or word and leaves much to the imagination of the reader. Many of his short poems, however, are comparatively simple.
bole : trunk
whitethroat : European warbler
rapture : burst of joyous song
dower : treasure, gift, wealth, or property
Answer the following questions.
1) What are the lines that show Browning’s longing for England?
2) What signs does the poet associate with early spring?
3) How will “noontide wake anew the buttercups”?
4) What flower in Italy is compared to the buttercup
5) What do you love most about spring time in your town or city? Why?