English Summary - ABC

FIRE IN THE BEDROOM Oh! who would wish to go to sleep, When walls and ceiling glow all rosy, And flames sing low a murmuring, cosy Song to which the shadows leap- Oh, who would wish to go to sleep? And who could shut his peeping eyes When window-panes, blue-black with skies, Flash bright, the dark, as firelight dies? So I lie still in the quiet room And hear the fire's low happy song, And wish the nights were twice as long, Dreaming strange dreams, in the gleam and gloom, Of dancing fairies that fill my room: Flames that are prisoned pixies fair With wildly-streaming yellow hair, And goblin-shadows that mock them there. And then I find the night's leapt by, Swift as a shadow upward thrown, And I have slept, and never known What hour the fire got tired, and why The shadows never said 'Good-bye.' I. M. DUFTY Summary: 'Fire in the Bedroom' by I. M. Dufty is a poem that describes the magical atmosphere created by a fire in a bedroom. The speaker expresses their relu...

CHILD'S SONG I know the sky will fall one day- The great green trees will topple down, The spires will wither far away Upon the battlemented town; When winds and waves forget to flow And the wild song-birds cease from calling, Then I shall take my shoes and go To tell the king the sky is falling. There's lots of things I've never done, And lots of things I'll never see; The nearest rainbow ever spun Is much too far away for me; But when the dark air's lost in snow And the long quiet strikes appalling, I learn how it will feel to go To tell the King the sky is falling. GERALD GOULD Summary: 'Child's Song' by Gerald Gould is a poem that expresses the inevitability of change and the impermanence of all things, even the sky. The speaker, a child, contemplates a future when the sky will fall, the trees will topple, and the spires will wither. In this desolate world, the child will set out to tell the king that the sky is falling. The poem also reflects on the...

IN THE SNOW Hear how my friend the robin sings! That little hunchback in the snow, As it comes down as fast as rain. The air is cold, the wind doth blow, And still his heart can feel no pain. And I, with heart as light as his, And to my ankles deep in snow, Hold up a fist as cold as Death's, And into it I laugh and blow- I laugh and blow my life's warm breath. WILLIAM H. DAVIES Summary: 'In the Snow' by William H. Davies is a poem about the poet's observation of a robin in the snow. Despite the cold and harsh weather, the robin sings joyfully, and the poet marvels at how the bird can feel no pain. The poet also finds himself ankle-deep in snow, but he too has a light heart and is able to laugh and blow warm breath into his fist. The poem celebrates the resilience of life and the ability to find joy even in difficult circumstances.

 THE MILLER OF THE DEE There dwelt a miller hale and bold Beside the river Dee; He worked and sang from morn to night: No lark more blithe than he. And this the burden of his song For ever used to be: 'I envy nobody, no, not I, And nobody envies me!' 'Thou'rt wrong, my friend,' said old King Hal, 'Thou'rt wrong as wrong can be; For could my heart be light as thine, I'd gladly change with thee. 'And tell me now, what makes thee sing, With voice so loud and free, While I am sad, though I am king, Beside the river Dee?' The miller smiled and doffed his cap: 'I earn my bread,' quoth he, 'I love my wife, I love my friend, 'I love my children three; 'I owe no penny I cannot pay. I thank the river Dee, That turns the mill and grinds the corn To feed my babes and me.' 'Good friend,' said Hal, and sighed the while, 'Farewell, and happy be; But say no more, if thou'dst say true, That no man envies thee: 'Thy meal...

TIME, YOU OLD GIPSY MAN! Time, you old gipsy man, Will you not stay, Put up your caravan Just for one day? All things I'll give you, Will you be my guest, Bells for your jennet Of silver the best. Goldsmiths shall beat you A great golden ring, Peacocks shall bow to you, Little boys sing. Oh, and sweet girls will Festoon you with may, Time, you old gipsy; Why hasten away? RALPH HODGSON Summary: 'Time, You Old Gipsy Man!' is a poem by Ralph Hodgson that addresses time as if it were an old gipsy man. The speaker pleads with time to stay for just one day and offers to give him all things, including bells of silver for his jennet and a great golden ring. The speaker imagines peacocks bowing to time and little boys singing for him. He even suggests that sweet girls would festoon him with may, a traditional celebration of the arrival of spring. Despite all these tempting offers, time is depicted as a relentless traveler who must continue on his journey. The poem speaks to the fle...

RING OUT, WILD BELLS Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. LORD TENNYSON Summary: 'Ring Out, Wild Bells' is a poem by Lord Tennyson that reflects on the passing of time and the arrival of a new year. The speaker calls on the bells to ring out to the wild sky, to mark the end of the current year and to let it die. He urges the bells to ring in the new year, with happiness and joy, and to let go of the false things of the past and embrace the truth of the future. The poem uses ringing bells   as a metaphor for the passing of time and the cycle of life, urging readers to reflect on the year that has passed and to look forward to the opportunities that the new year will bring.

 THE GLOW-WORM'S STORY 'When Christ in Bethlehem was born, And in the manager laid, Then to the Maiden so forlorn We creatures offerings made. 'The ass brings straw, the ox some hay, To make the Babe a bed, And soft warm hair the camels lay.' 'And what brought you ?' I said. 'I nibbled off a little leaf, And placed it on His cheek, For I no more, to my sore grief, Could do, I was so weak. 'And with that leaf the Baby played, And, playing touched me: lo! Just where His little hand He laid, For evermore I glow. 'For evermore that glow remains To yield its gentle light, For al He touches thus obtains A radiance true and bright.' W. M. MEREDITH Summary: 'The Glow-worm's Story' by W. M. Meredith is a short poem that recounts the story of the Nativity. The speaker is a glow-worm who describes how all the animals and creatures of the earth brought gifts to the Baby Jesus in the manger. The glow-worm could only offer a small leaf, which the ...

GOOD KING WENCESLAS Good King Wenceslas looked out, On the Feast of Stephen; When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even: Brightly shone the moon that night Though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, Gathering winter fuel. 'Hither, page, and stand by me, If thou know'st it, telling, Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?' 'Sire, he lives a good league hence Underneath the mountain; Right against the forest fence, By St Agnes' fountain.' 'Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, Bring me pine-logs hither; Thou and I will see him dine When we bear them thither.' Page and monarch forth they went, Forth they went together Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather. 'Sire, the night grows darker now, And the wind blows stronger, Fails my heart I know not how; I can go no longer.' 'Mark my footsteps, good my page; Tread thou in them boldly: Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy bl...

WINTER Old Winter is a sturdy one, And lasting stuff he's made of; His flesh is made of iron-stone, There's nothing he's afraid of. He spreads his coat upon the hearth, Nor yet to warm it lingers; He scouts the thought of aching teeth, Or chilblains on the fingers, Of flowers that bloom or birds that sing Full little cares or knows he; He hates the fire and hates the spring, And all that's warm and cosy. But when the foxes bark aloud On frozen lake and river, When round the fire the people crowd And rub their hands and shiver, When frost is splitting stone and wall, And trees come crashing after- That hates he not, he loves it all, Then bursts he out in laughter. He from the north has hither hied To show his strength and power, And when he comes we stand aside And look at him and cower. UNKNOWN Summary: The poem 'Winter' by an unknown author describes winter as a strong and enduring season, made of lasting and sturdy material. Winter is fearless and immune to th...

WINTER RAIN Every valley drinks, Every dell and hollow; Where the kind rain sinks and sinks, Green of Spring will follow. Yet a lapse of weeks- Buds will burst their edges, Strip their wool-coats, glue-coats, streaks, In the woods and hedges; But for fattening rain We should have no flowers, Never a bud or leaf again But for soaking showers: We should find no moss In the shadiest places, Find no waving meadow grass Pied with broad-eyed daisies: But miles of barren sand, With never a son or daughter; Not a lily on the land, Or lily on the water. CHRISTINA ROSSETTI Summary: 'Winter Rain' by Christina Rossetti celebrates the life-giving and rejuvenating power of rain. The poem acknowledges that every valley, dell, and hollow drinks in the rain, and where the rain sinks deep into the earth, green growth and the beauty of Spring will follow. The poet also recognizes that without the fattening rain, there would be no flowers, buds or leaves. The poem reminds us that the soaking showe...

THE OLD MAN AND HIS WIFE There was an old man who lived in a wood, As you may plainly see, He said he could do as much work in a day As his wife could do in three. 'With all my heart,' the old woman said, 'If that you will allow, To-morrow you'll stay at home in my stead, And I'll go drive the plough. 'But you must go milk Tidy the cow, For fear that she go dry; And you must feed the little pigs That are within the sty. And you must mind the speckled hen, For fear she lay away; And you must reel the spool of yarn That I spun yesterday.' The old woman took a staff in her hand, And went to drive the plough, The old man took a pail in his hand, And went to milk the cow. But Tidy hinched, and Tidy flinched, And Tidy broke his nose, And Tidy gave him such a blow, That the blood ran down to his toes. 'High, Tidy! ho, Tidy! high, Tidy! Tidy! stand thou still; If ever I milk you, Tidy, again, 'Twill be sore agaisnt my will.' He went to feed the little pi...

THE WORLD Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World, With the wonderful water round you curled, And the wonderful grass upon your breast- World, you are beautifully drest. The wonderful air is over me, And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree, It walks on the water and whirls the mills, And talks to itself on the tops of the hills. You friendly Earth, how far do you go, With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow, With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles, And people upon you for thousands of miles? Ah! you are so great and I am so small, I tremble to think of you, World, at all; And yet, when I said my prayers to-day, A whisper inside me seemed to say, 'You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot: You can love and think, and the Earth can not; W. B. RANDS Summary: 'The World' by W. B. Rands is a poem that marvels at the beauty and vastness of the natural world. The speaker is in awe of the water, grass, air, and wind that surround them, as well ...

NIGHT-NURSERY THOUGHTS O sometimes when I wake at night I think the moon so round and bright, That it must fall for very light. That lovely, lovely liquid fall Would make the stars cry out and call, But would not burn my hands at all. Now even raindrops off the tip Of leaves and twigs, soft, softly drip; But if the moon should suddenly slip, You'd never hear the softest sup. And nobody could scrape it up; It would not stay in any cup. The moon would fall without a sound, Without a stain upon the ground, And in the morning, not be found. FRANCES CORNFORD  Summary: The poem 'Night-Nursery Thoughts' by Frances Cornford depicts the thoughts of a child who wakes up at night and thinks about the moon. The child imagines that the moon is so round and light that it could fall from the sky like a lovely liquid, making the stars cry out and call. However, the child also realizes that the moon would not burn their hands if it fell. The child contrasts the soft sound of raindrops falli...

5TH OF NOVEMBER The night's as black as velvet, And dim the envious stars; Beyond our roaring bonfire The gate has golden bars. And faces gleam and vanish; Voices are lost and drowned, In the thrilling hiss of rockets Spurting up from the ground. There's a smell of smoke and chestnuts, And strange sounds pierce the gloom; And a million rainbow-coloured stars Burst into sudden bloom! They're dancing around the bonfire, And playing the wildest games; But I just hold my breath and gaze At the sudden stars and the flames! L. M. DUFTY Summary: The poem '5th of November' by L. M. Dufty describes the atmosphere of a Guy Fawkes Night celebration. The night is described as being black as velvet, with the stars dimmed by the bright bonfire. Beyond the bonfire, the gate seems to have golden bars. The celebration is filled with people whose faces gleam and vanish, and voices that are lost and drowned out by the thrilling hiss of rockets spurting up from the ground. The smell of...

NOVEMBER No sun-no moon! No morn-no noon- No dawn-no dusk-no proper time of day- No sky-no earthly view- No distance looking blue- No road-no street-no 't'other side the way.' No travelling at all-no locomotion, No inkling of the way-no notion- 'No go'- by land or ocean- No mail-no post- No news from any foreign coast. No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, No comfortable feel in any member- No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds- November! THOMAS HOOD Summary: 'November' by Thomas Hood is a poem that describes the bleakness and dreariness of the month. The poem begins with a series of negatives, stating that there is no sun, moon, morn, noon, dawn, dusk, sky, or earthly view. There is no distance looking blue and no road or street to be found. The poem goes on to say that there is no travelling, no locomotion, and no inkling of the way, making it impossible to go by land or ocean. There is no mail, no...

THE COMING STORM The tree-tops rustle, the tree-tops wave, They hustle, they bustle; and, down in a cave, The winds are murmuring, ready to rave. The skies are dimming; the birds fly low, Skimming and swimming, their wings are slow; The float, they are carries, they scarcely go. The dead leaves hurry; the waters, too. Hurry and scurry; as if they knew A storm was at hand; the smoke is blue. W. B. RANDS Summary: 'The Coming Storm' by W. B. Rands is a poem that describes the signs of an approaching storm. The tree-tops rustle and wave, and the winds are murmuring down in a cave, ready to rave. The skies are dimming, and the birds are flying low, their wings skimming and swimming slowly. The dead leaves and waters hurry and scurry, as of they knew that a storm was at hand. The smoke is blue, indicating that the air is already unsettled. The poem creates a sense of tension and anticipation for the impeding storm, as nature seems to be in a state of agitation.

THE WIND FROM THE WEST Blow high, blow low, O wind from the West: You come from the country I love the best. O say, have the lilies Yet lifted their heads Above the lake-water That ripples and spreads? Do the little sedges Still shake with delight, And whisper together All through the night? Have the mountains the purple I used to love, And peace about them, Around and above? O wind from the West, Blow high, blow low, You must come from the country I loved long ago. ELLA YOUNG Summary: 'The Wind from the West' is a poem by Ella Young that expresses her longing for her homeland. She addresses the wind, which blows from the west, the direction of her beloved country. She asks the wind if the lilies have lifted their heads above the lake-water and if the little sedges still whisper together all through the night. She also inquiries if the mountains have the same purple hue and if peace surrounds them as before. The poem captures the sense of homesickness and nostalgia for a place ...

WHEN THE LEAVES FALL When the leaves fall off the trees Everybody walks on them; Once they had a time of ease High above, and every breeze Used to stay and talk to them. Then they were so debonair As they fluttered up and down; Dancing in the sunny air, Dancing without knowing there Was a gutter in the town. Now they have no place at all! All the home that they can find Is a gutter by a wall, And the wind that waits their fall Is an apache of a wind. JAMES STEPHENS Summary: 'When the Leaves Fall' by James Stephens is a short poem that reflects on the changing fortunes of leaves as they fall off trees. The speaker notes that when the leaves were on the trees, they enjoyed a carefree life, dancing in the air and chatting with the breeze. However, now that they have fallen to the ground, they are trampled upon by everyone and have lost their former elegance. They have no place to call home except for gutters by walls, and the wind that once used to play with them is now a harsh wi...

THE KITTEN AT PLAY See the kitten on the wall, Sporting with the leaves that fall, Withered leaves, one, two, and three Falling from the elder-tree, Through the calm and frosty air Of the morning bright and fair. See the kitten, how she starts, Crouches, stretches, paws and darts; With a tiger-leap half way Now she meets her coming prey. Lets it go as fast and then Has it in her power again. Now she works with three and four, Like an Indian conjuror; Quick as he in feats of art; Gracefully she plays her part; Yet were gazing thousands there, What would little Tabby care? WILLIAM WORDSWORTH Summary: 'The Kitten at Play' is a short and simple poem by William Wordsworth that portrays the playful nature of a kitten. The speaker observes the kitten as it jumps around and plays with the withered leaves falling from an elder-tree on a calm and frosty morning. The poem highlights the kitten's agility as it crouches, stretches, and pounces on its prey like a tiger. Even if thousands...

THE ELVES I saw them not an hour ago, Yes, saw them in a bower set, With tiger lilies all a-row, And marigolds and mignonette. They came in ones and twos and threes- A happy train of tiny elves, And chased the spiders and the bees, And climbed up to the dizzy shelves Of sunny leaves, and leapt and sang, And scampered through the underwood, Until the mocking echoes rang And scared the beetle with her brood. And in and out the clover-beds. They shook the puff-balls one by one, And laughed to see their yellow heads Go sailing up into the sun. And then, with laugh and leap and shout, They climbed the lily-cups, alas! And rolled the crystal dewdrops out, And split their beauty in the grass. When- whisk! -they vanished as they came; And all that showed where they had been- A daddy-long-legs limp and lame, A wildly shaking leaf of green. DOUGLAS CARSWELL Summary: 'The Elves' by Douglas Carswell is a poem describing a magical encounter with a group of playful elves. The narrator claims...

 THE FOX CUB SPEAKS 'What is the sound, little brother, That rings through the early air? 'Oh, that is the call of the farmer-lads As the last of the sheaves they bear, And they sing 'mid the dewy golden grain And laugh and make merry there.' But the old fox said: 'That's the huntsman's call, Take care!' 'What is the gleam, little brother, Showing white in the meadow there?' 'Oh, the children gather the bramble fruit, And fill the pails they bear, And they dance, white clad, 'mong the crimson- ing leaves Or the purple beauty share.' But the old fox said: 'That's the glint of hounds; Beware!' 'What is the rustle, brother, That creeps through the covert there?' 'Oh, the scent-soaked early morning breeze Is stirring the bracken where The green turns bronze-quick! little brother, We'd best get back to our lair!' And the old fox, he said nothing, for he wasn't there. HYLDA C. COLE Summary: 'The Fox C...

 THE POPPIES IN THE GARDEN The poppies in the garden, they all wear frocks of silk, Some are purple, some are pink, and others white  as milk, Light, light, for dancing in, for dancing when the  breeze Plays a little two-step for the blossoms and the bees, Fine, fine for dancing in, all frilly at the hem, Oh, when I watch the poppies dance I long to dance like them! The poppies in the garden have let their silk frocks  fall All about the border paths, but where are they at all? Here a frill and there a flounce-a rag of silky red, But not a poppy-girl is left-I think they've gone  to bed, Gone to bed and gone to sleep; and weary must they be, For each has left her box of dreams upon the stem for me. FFRIDA WOLFE Summary: 'The Poppies in the Garden' by Ffrida Wolfe is a playful poem that describes the beauty and charm of poppies in a garden. The poppies are depicted as wearing silk frocks, which come in various colours like purple, pink, and white. They dance ligh...

 THE CITY CHILD Dainty little maiden, whither would you wander? Whither from this pretty home, the home where Mother dwells? 'Far and far away,' said the dainty little maiden. 'All among the gardens, auriculas, anemones, Roses and lilies and Canterbury-bells.' Dainty little maiden, whither would you wander? Whither from this pretty house, this city-house of ours? 'Far and far away,' said the dainty little maiden, 'All among the meadows, the clover and the  clematis, Daisies and king-cups and honeysuckle flowers. LORD TENNYSON Summary: 'The City Child' by Lord Tennyson is a short poem that features a conversation between a speaker and a young girl. The speaker asks the girl where she wants to go, and she replies that she wants to go far away, to places filled with gardens and meadows, and a variety of flowers such as auriculas, anemones, roses, lilies, Canterbury-bells, clover, clematis, daisies, king-cups, and honeysuckle flowers. The poem presents t...

 A NAUGHTY BOY There was a naughty boy, And a naughty boy was he. He ran away to Scotland, The people there to see, But he found That the ground Was as hard, That a yard Was as long, That a song Was as merry, That a cherry Was as red, That lead Was as weighty, That fourscore Was still eighty, And a door was as wooden as in England. So he stood in his shoes, and he wondered, He wondered, he wondered, So he stood in his shoes and he wondered. JOHN KEATS Summary: 'A Naughty Boy' by John Keats is a short poem about a mischievous boy who runs away to Scotland to see the people there. However, the boy soon realizes that everything he sees in Scotland is the same as it was in England - the ground is still hard, a yard is still long, a song is still merry, and a cherry is still red. The boy is surprised to discover that lead is still weighty, fourscore is still eighty, and a door is still made of wood. The poem concludes with the boy standing in his shoes, wondering about the similari...

THE CLIFF-TOP The cliff-top has a carpet Of lilac, gold and green: The blue sky bounds the ocean, The white clouds scud between. A flock of gulls are wheeling And wailing round my seat: Above my head the heaven, The sea beneath my feet. ROBERT BRIDGES  Summary: 'The Cliff-Top' by Robert Bridges is a short poem that describes a scene from a cliff-top overlooking the ocean. The speaker notes the carpet of lilac, gold, and green that covers the cliff-top. The blue sky is described as a boundary for the vast ocean, and white clouds can be seen scudding between them. The poem also notes the presence of a flock of gulls, circling and wailing around the speaker's seat. The contrast between the expansive sky above and the vast sea beneath the speaker's feet is emphasized, creating a sense of awe and wonder at the natural world. Overall, the poem is simple yet vivid description of a beautiful scene in nature.

 THE SEA The sea! the sea! the open sea! The blue, the fresh, the ever free! Without a mark, without a bound, It runneth the earth's wide regions 'round; It plays with the clouds, and mocks the skies; Or like a cradled creature lies. BARRY CORNWALL Summary: 'The Sea' by Barry Cornwall is a poem that celebrates the vastness and freedom of the open sea. The speaker describes the sea as boundless and unmarked, stretching across the earth's wide regions. The sea is depicted as playful, interacting with the clouds and defying the skies. The poem ends with an image of the sea as a cradled creature, resting peacefully in its vast expanse. Overall, 'The Sea' captures the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the natural world. Source: New Fair Silver Bells Book Three

 THE FROWNING CLIFF The sea has a laugh And the cliff a frown; For the laugh of the sea Is wearing him down. Lipping and lapping, Frown as he may, The laughing sea Will eat him away. Knees and body, And tawny head, He'll smile at last On a golden bed. HERBERT ASQUITH Summary: 'The Frowning Cliff' is a short poem by Herbert Asquith that describes the contrast between the sea and the cliff. While the sea is depicted as lively and playful, with 'a laugh' that wears down the cliff, the cliff is described as frowning and unable to resist the sea's constant erosion. The poem ends with a somber tone, as the cliff is ultimately worn away by the sea, until it lies in a 'golden bed'. The poem suggests a larger theme about the power of nature and the inevitability of change and decay over time.

THE DUSTY MILLER Hey, the dusty miller, And his dusty coat; He will win a shilling, Or he spend a groat. Dusty was the coat, Dusty was the colour, Dusty was the kiss, That I got frae the miller. Hey, the dusty miller, And his dusty sack; Leeze me on the calling Fills the dusty peck. Fills the dusty peck, Brings the dusty siller; I wad gie my coatie For the dusty miller. ROBERT BURNS Summary: 'The Dusty Miller' is a short poem by Robert Burns that describes a miller who is covered in dust from his work. The speaker of the poem admires the miller's hard work and suggests that he is skilled enough to earn a shilling or even spend a groat (a small coin). The speaker then goes on to describe the miller's dusty appearance, including his coat, the colour of his clothes, and even the dusty kiss he once received from him. The poem ends with the speaker expressing admiration for the miller's ability to fill his sack with grain and earn money, stating that they would give up t...

THE WINDMILL If you should bid me make a choice 'Twixt wind and water-mill, In spite of all the millpond's charms I'd take those gleaming sweeping arms High on a windy hill. The miller stands before his door And whistles for a breeze; And, when it comes, his sails go round With such a mighty rushing sound You think of heavy seas. And if the wind declines to blow The miller takes a nap, (Although he'd better spend an hour In brushing at the dust and flour That line his coat and cap). Now, if a water-mill were his, Such rest he'd never know, For round and round his crashing wheel, His dashing, splashing, plashing wheel, Unceasingly would go. So, if you'd bid me make a choice 'Twixt wind and water-mill, In spite of all a millpond's charms, I'd take those gleaming sweeping arms High on the windy hill. E.V. LUCAS Summary: The poem 'The Windmill' by E.V. Lucas describes the author's preference for windmills over water-mills. Despite the charmin...