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Child's Song in Spring
Edith Nesbit
About Edith Nesbit
Edith Nesbit (1858 − 1924), born in London, was a British children's author, novelist and poet. Nesbit's childhood experiences served as an inspiration for the plots of her books. She started writing fiction for children in the early 1890s and published more than 60 pieces in her lifetime. The books she wrote brought children in the real world and magical objects together on adventures.
The silver birth is a dainty lady,
She wears a satin gown;
The elm tree makes the old churchyard shady,
She will not live in town.
The English Oak is a sturdy fellow,
He gets his green coat late;
The willow is smart in a suit of yellow,
While brown the beech trees wait.
Such a gay green gown God gives the larches−
As green as He is good!
The hazels hold up their arms for arches,
When Spring rides through the wood.
The chestnut's proud and the lilac's pretty,
The poplar's gentle and tall,
But the plane tree's kind to the poor dull city−
I love him best of all!
Available Answers
- 1.
Match the different trees from the poem to what the poet says about them.
a. Silver birch 1. gets his green coat late b. English oak 2. has a suit of yellow c. Plane tree 3. wears a satin gown d. Willow 4. gentle and tall e. Poplar 5. kind to the poor, dull city - 2.
Explain the poet's comment about the elm tree: "She will not live in town."
- 3.
What image do you get of the English oak when the poet says he 'gets his green coat late'? Is it a funny image?
- 4.
Why is the plane tree the poet's favourite?
- 5.
List the different colours the poem talks about and discuss what they mean.
- 6.
How would you describe the poet's tone in the poem? What is the feeling conveyed to the reader?
1 more answer(s) available.