=Biography.= William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was born in the beautiful Cumberland Highlands of northern England, which furnished the inspiration for most of his poetry. While still a young man, he retired to the beautiful Lake Country of northern England, where he lived a simple life. He was devoted to the cause of liberty; he was a believer in the beauty and charm of the humble life; he often wrote about peasants rather than about lords and ladies and knights of romance. His flower poems and bird poems show the simplicity and sincerity of his nature. =Note.= The cuckoo is a European bird noted for its two-syllable whistle, in imitation of which it is named; also for its habit of laying eggs in the nests of other birds for them to hatch, instead of building a nest of its own. =Discussion.= 1. Why does the poet call the cuckoo “a wandering voice”? 2. What other names does the poet call the cuckoo? 3. To what habit of the cuckoo does this poem call attention? 4. Why does the poet say a “fairy place” is a fit home for the cuckoo? 5. What “golden time” is mentioned? =Phrases= thy twofold shout, 50, 6 at once far off and near, 50, 8 tale of visionary hours, 50, 11 beget that golden time again, 51, 11 THE BIRDS’ ORCHESTRA CELIA THAXTER Bobolink shall play the violin, Great applause to win; Lonely, sweet, and sad, the meadow-lark Plays the oboe. Hark! Yellow-bird the clarionet shall play, Blithe, and clear, and gay. Purple-finch what instrument will suit? He can play the flute. Fire-winged blackbirds sound the merry fife, Soldiers without strife; And the robins wind the mellow horn Loudly, eve and morn. Who shall clash the cymbals? Jay and crow, That is all they know; And, to roll the deep melodious drum, Lo! the bull-frogs come. Then the splendid chorus! Who shall sing Of so fine a thing? Who the names of the performers call Truly, one and all? NOTES AND QUESTIONS For Biography, see page 48. =Discussion.= 1. What instruments compose the birds’ orchestra? 2. Why does the poet say the jay and crow are assigned to the cymbals? 3. Explain: “fire-winged” blackbirds. 4. What leads you to think that the author knew those birds intimately? 5. Do you think the chorus would be pleasing? 6. What assignments do you think are particularly apt? =Phrases= soldiers without strife, 52, 10 wind the mellow horn, 52, 11 clash the cymbals, 52, 13 roll the deep melodious drum, 52, 15 FLOWERS AND TREES [Illustration] TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT Thou blossom, bright with autumn dew, And colored with the heaven’s own blue, That openest when the quiet light Succeeds the keen and frosty night; Thou comest not when violets lean O’er wandering brooks and springs unseen, Or columbines, in purple dressed, Nod o’er the ground bird’s hidden nest.