13

March

William Cullen Bryant

The stormy March is come at last,

With wind, and cloud, and changing skies;

I hear the rushing of the blast

That through the snowy valley flies.

Ah, passing few are they who speak,

Wild, stormy month! in praise of thee;

Yet, though thy winds are loud and bleak,

Thou art a welcome month to me.

For thou to northern lands again

The glad and glorious sun dost bring,

And thou has joined the gentle train

And wear'st the gentle name of Spring.

And, in thy reign of blast and storm,

Smiles many a long, bright, sunny day,

When the changed winds are soft and warm,

And heaven puts on the blue of May.

Thou bring'st the hope of those calm skies

And that soft time of sunny showers

When the wide bloom, on earth that lies,

Seems of a brighter world than ours.

A Backward Look

In the selections you have just read, you have been seeing the outdoor world through the eyes of people who love it and can read its language. You have become acquainted with just a few of the thousands of pages of fascinating stories that have been written about the wild things which live on this earth with us human beings.

Think back over these stories and poems. Which was the most exciting? Did that exciting story interest you most of all, or was there some other story that was more interesting to you? What serious fact did you learn about the wild life not only of our country but of the world?

Old Boculy knew his outdoor world probably better than you know arithmetic or spelling or geography, and it is almost certain that he knew it better than you know the wild life that surrounds you. How many animals and how many birds can you name that live in your part of the country? It would be interesting for each of you to make a separate list of the animals, birds, and flowers that may be found near your home. Then compare lists and see how many different kinds have been named by the class.

Have you thought of any ways in which you can help protect the wild life in your part of the country? Have you tried to interest older people in protecting birds and wild flowers?