I am planning to read this one with my seventh graders next week. I thought they'd like it because we read a whole slew of mournful November poems, and this one is way more cheerful. In fact, Dunbar mocks the idea that autumn is sad. The poem starts:
Merry Autumn
Paul Laurence Dunbar
It's all a farce,—these tales they tell
About the breezes sighing,
And moans astir o'er field and dell,
Because the year is dying.
And it ends like this:
Don't talk to me of solemn days
In autumn's time of splendor,
Because the sun shows fewer rays,
And these grow slant and slender.
Why, it's the climax of the year,—
The highest time of living!—
Till naturally its bursting cheer
Just melts into thanksgiving.
You can read the whole poem here.
I'm really looking forward to next week just melting into Thanksgiving. Over at Write. Sketch. Repeat., Katya is hosting a Thanksgiving feast and Poetry Friday roundup. Head on over to see what she is serving here!
7 hours ago
6 comments:
Love the cheerful November perspective you challenge us to. I need to cultivate that during our dull, drippy season, though the colorful leaves have lingered much longer than usual this year.
What sorts of differences do you experience from season to season in Haiti? Do trees lose their leaves? I suspect no snow...
How refreshing! I can well imagine that your students will love it-- when I was a student I always looked forward to autumn. Wrapped up with the beginning of the school year, it always seemed to be an exciting and invigorating time of year.
Thanks for posting this uplifting autumn poem. Especially needed in November. Happy Thanksgiving!!
I needed that. It's so healthy to be reminded of the other, more positive point of view.
I'm going to come right out and say it--I hate the fall! The only good thing about it is it makes appreciate spring all the more. ;-)
However, I do like Dunbar's poem and especially this line: "The seed burs all with laughter crack". Such a delightful image.
Hmm. I'm unconvinced. I give Dunbar an A for enthusiasm, though!
:-)
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