by James Stephens
See this poem separately / The Wind
by Robert Louis Stevenson / Wind by Amy Lowell
The wind stood up, and gave a shout;
He whistled on his fingers, and
Kicked the withered leaves about,
And thumped the branches with his hand,
And said he'd kill, and kill, and kill;
And so he will! And so he will! / I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass
Oh wind, a blowing all day long,
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all
Oh wind, a blowing all day long!
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!
O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
Robert Louis Stevenson / He shouts in the sails of the ships at sea,
He steals the down from the honeybee,
He makes the forest trees rustle and sing,
He twirls my kite till it breaks its string.
Laughing, dancing, sunny wind,
Whistling, howling, rainy wind,
North, South, East and West,
Each is the wind I like the best.
He calls up the fog and hides the hills,
He whirls the wings of the great windmills,
The weathercocks love him and turn to discover
His whereabouts -- but he's gone, the rover!
Laughing, dancing, sunny wind,
Whistling, howling, rainy wind,
North, South, East and West,
Each is the wind I like the best.
The pine trees toss him their cones with glee,
The flowers bend low in courtesy,
Each wave flings up a shower of pearls,
The flag in front of the school unfurls.
Laughing, dancing, sunny wind,
Whistling, howling, rainy wind,
North, South, East and West,
Each is the wind I like the best.
Poetry Essay Prewriting Activity
Stephens / Stevenson / LowellSubject (What is the poem about?)
Speaker (Is the speaker in the poem identified? If so, what do you know about the speaker?)
Imagery (What sensory details does the poet use to describe the wind and help us see it or hear it?)
Figurative Language (How does the poet use simile, metaphor, or personification?)
Meaning (What kind of wind do you think the poet is talking about?)
Response (How do you feel or think about the poem? Why?)
Choose two poems and do the chart below.
Similarities / Differencesa. Both poems / a. ______’s wind is
b. Both poems / b. _____ ‘s wind is
c. / c.
d. / d.
e. / e.
f. / f.