"Autobiographies of great nations are written in three manuscripts – a book of deeds, a book of words, and a book of art. Of the three, I would choose the latter as truest testimony." - Sir Kenneth Smith, Great Civilisations

"I must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine." - Leo Tolstoy

I have never believed that one should wait until one is inspired because I think the pleasures of not writing are so great that if you ever start indulging them you will never write again. - John Updike

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations." - Lawrence Ferlinghetti


[Note - If any article requires updating or correction please notate this in the comment section. Thank you. - res]


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Pre-K Winter Songs & Poems



Pre-Kindergarten Winter Songs & Poems
Source - http://www.preschooleducation.com/swinter.shtml


Sung to: "Frere Jacques"

Winter's Coming
- Author Unknown

Winter's coming, Winters Coming.
It is Dark, It is cold.
I am bundled snug and warm.
Animals sleep safe from harm.
Sleds and snow.
Cold winds blow.




Sung to: "Frere Jacques"

Dance Like Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Dance like snowflakes
Dance like snowflakes
In the air
In the air
Whirling, twirling, snowflakes
Whirling, twirling, snowflakes
Here and there
Here and there.



Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"

I'm a Friendly Snowman
- Author Unknown

I'm a friendly snowman big and fat.
(stretch arms out to sides)
Here is my tummy and here is my hat.
(point to tummy, then top of head)
I'm a happy fellow, here's my nose.
(smile, then point to nose)
I'm all snow from my head to my toes.
(point to head, then to toes)
I have two bright eyes so I can see.
(point to eyes)
All the snow falling down on me.
(flutter fingers downward)
When the weather's cold I'm strong and tall.
(stand up all)
But when it's warm I get very small.
(crouch down low)



Sung to: "The farmer in the Dell"

Frost
- Author Unknown

The frost is on the roof
(point hands over head)
The frost is on the ground
(point to the floor)
The frost is on the window
(make a window with your hands)
The frost is all around
(make large circles with hands)



Sung to: "Sailing, Sailing"

Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Snowflakes, Snowflakes
Falling to the ground.
Each one rest so gently
They never make a sound.
Snowflakes, Snowflakes
Are so pure and white.
The special thing about them is
No two are alike.



Sung to: "Sing a song of Sixpence"

Sing a Song of Winter
- Author Unknown

Sing a song of winter, frost is in the air;
Sing a song of winter, snowflakes everywhere.
Sing a song of winter, hear the sleigh bells chime,
Can you think of anything as nice as wintertime?




Sung to: "Row, Row, Row your boat"

Sliding
- Author Unknown

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch, Crunch
Up the hill we go
Sliding, sliding, sliding, sliding
Down the hill we go.



Sung to: "Row, Row, Row your Boat"

The Snowman Ran and Ran
- Author Unknown

The Snow, Snow, Snowman
Came out to play.
But the Children cried, "Get back inside
The sun is out today"
The snow, snow, Snowman
Started to run away.
But when he ran, he ran and ran.
Until a puddle lay.



Sung to: "The Farmer in the Dell"

Puttin' on Mittens
- Author Unknown

The Thumb in the Thumb place
Fingers all together
This is the song we sing
When it is mitten weather.



Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Snowflakes, Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around,
Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground
Snowflakes, snowflakes, in the air
Snowflakes, snowflakes, everywhere
Snowflakes, snowflakes, dance around
Snowflakes, snowflakes, touch the ground



Sung to: "Row, Row, Row your Boat"

Snowflakes Falling Down
- Author Unknown

Snowflakes falling down (wiggle fingers downward)
Falling on the ground
Great, big white flakes (make circles with thumbs and forefingers touching)
That do not make a sound (fingers to lips and shake head no)



Sung to: "Are you sleeping?"

Hibernation Song
- Author Unknown

Bear is sleeping, Bear is sleeping.
In a cave, In a cave.
I wonder when he'll come out,
I wonder when he'll come out.
In the spring, In the spring.



Five Little Snowmen
- Author Unknown

5 little Snowman standing in a row,
Each had a hat and a big red bow.
Out came the sun and it shone all day,
1 Little snowman melted away.
4 Little Snowman standing in a row,
Each had a hat and a big red bow.
Out Came the the sun and it shone all day,
1 Little snowman melted away.
Etc....






Sung to: " Three Blind mice"

I Love Snow
- Author Unknown

I love snow, I love snow.
Soft, white snow; Soft, white snow.
It falls on the ground so soft and white.
Sometimes it falls all through the night.
Did you ever see such a beautiful sight
As soft white snow?



Sung to: "I'm a little Teapot"

I'm a Little Snow Person
- Author Unknown

I'm a little snow person,
Short and fat
Here are my buttons,
here is my Hat.
When the snow comes out,
I cannot stay.
Slowly I just melt away.



Sung to: "Happy Birthday"

The Wintery Wind
- Author Unknown

The winter wind blows.
The winter wind blows.
It gives me the shivers
From my head to my toes!



Sung to: "Jingle Bells"

Icy Toes
- Author Unknown

Icy toes, Chilly nose,
Wintertime is here.
My teeth Chatter,
What's the matter?
Wintertime is here, Oh!
Icy toes, Chilly nose,
Wintertime is here.
My teeth chatter,
What's the matter?
Wintertime is here.



Sung to: "Do your ears hang low?"

Who Is Made of Snow?
- Author Unknown

Who is made of snow
When the temperature is low?
Who stands outside
When The ground is cold and white?
Who starts to melt
When the warm sunshine is felt?
Who is made of snow?






Sung to: "Up On the Housetop"

Snow is Falling
- Author Unknown

Look at the sno...ow falling down,
Covering everything in town.
Over the grass and cars and street,
Snow is winter's special treat.
Snow, snow, snow, beautiful snow,
Snow, snow, snow, watch it grow-oh!
Snow on the housetop, yes, sir-ee,
Snow is falling just for me!



Five Little Snowmen Fat
- Author Unknown

Five little snowmen fat,
Each with a funny hat.
Out came the sun and melted one,
What do you think of that?
Down, down, down, down.
What do you think of that?

**Continue on with 4, 3, 2, 1. We like to really wear funny hats as we do
this one. Also a sun hot glued to an empty paper towel tube is great when
you sing "out came the sun...". The children love to "melt" down to the
ground!



A Chubby Little Snowman
- Author Unknown

A chubby little snowman,
Had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny,
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny,
Looking for his lunch.
Ate that snowman's carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch!!




Sung to: "Mulberry Bush"

Dance Around The Snowman
- Author Unknown

This is the way we dance around,
Dance around,
Dance around.
This is the way we dance around,
Our snowman in the morning.

*skip around
*twirl around
*crawl around
*hop around
*spin around
*gallop around
*sneak around
*tip toe around



Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"

Snowman
- Author Unknown

Here's a little snowman
Short and fat
Here is my broom
and here is my hat
When the sun comes out
I tremble with fear
'cause soon I'll melt and disappear!



Sung to: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Snowflakes, Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Snowflakes falling
One by one,
Time to play and have some fun.
Build a snowman
Snowballs, too,
Come and see what you can do.
Snowflakes falling
One by one,
Time to play and have some fun.



Sung to: "Up on the housetop"

Snowflakes Falling
- Author Unknown

Snowflakes are falling on the ground
On our houses and in our town
On my nose and in my hair
Snowflakes are falling everywhere.
Oh, oh, oh, out we go
Oh, oh, oh, in the snow
Making snowmen
Sliding, too,
There are lots of things to do.



Sung to: "This old Man"

Snow
- Author Unknown

Snow is falling on the ground
We can make things all around
Like snowmen, snowballs
Snow forts, too.
There are lots of things to do.
Snow is falling come and see
You can have some fun with me
Sliding, skating, skiing, too,
There are lots of things to do.



Sung to: "Little Teapot"

Snowman
- Author Unknown

I'm a little snowman
Round and fat
I have a broomstick
I have a hat.
With my friends
I play in the snow.
But when the sun shines
It's time to go.




10 Snowmen
- Author Unknown

10 happy snowmen riding on a sled
1 fell off and bumped his head
Frosty called the doctor and the doctor said
No more snowmen riding on that sled
(Continue in this fashion until you get to zero)



Sung to: "Mary Had A Little Lamb"

10 Snowmen
- Author Unknown

10 little snowmen dancing all around
Dancing all around, dancing all around
10 little snowmen dancing all around
The sun came out and one melted to the ground
(continue until you get to zero)




Let's Build A Snowman
- Author Unknown

Let's build a snow man (squat, stretch arms to gather snow)
Oooo, cold and white (shiver)
Oh it will be a lovely sight (place hands by face and smile)
Eyes and nose and happy grin (point to each)
We'll even put a dimple in his chin (point o dimple spot)
Let's build a snowman
Ooo, cold and white
Yes it will be a lovely sight



I Built A Snowman
- Author Unknown

I built a snowman (pretend to build)
Pat, pat, pat, (pat air three times)
He turned out great! (form circle with thumb and forefinger)
Now clap, clap, clap! (clap three times)
I patted snow (pat air on sides of snowman)
On his cheeks, cheeks, cheeks (pat air three times)
I put on a hat (pretend to place hat on head)
On his head, head, head, (touch head three times)
I made his mouth (touch mouth)
Gave him bread, bread, bread (touch mouth three times)
His button eyes are (point to eyes)
Pink, pink, pink (touch eyes three times)
I thought I saw him (tilt head to one side)
He looks so real! ( nod head)
Like an owl, owl, owl (make spectacles with fingers)
I tweaked his nose (tweak nose)
Saw him scowl, scowl, scowl (frown)



Sung to: "Happy Birthday"

The Snowman Song
- Author Unknown

Here's a funny hat for you
here's a funny hat for you.
It's a bobble hat, Mr. Snowman
What a funny hat for you !

Here are pretty eyes for you,
here are pretty eyes for you.
They are black stones, Mr. Snowman
What pretty eyes for you !

Here's a long stick for you,
here's a long stick for you.
It's a broomstick, Mr. Snowman
What a long stick for you !

Here's a big nose for you,
here's a big nose for you
It's a carrot, Mr. Snowman.
What a big nose for you !

Here's a little friend for you,
here's a little friend for you (rabbit)
He eats up the carrot,
what a pity for you !





Sung to: "Mary Had A Little Lamb"

Snowflakes Falling
- Author Unknown

Snowflakes falling from the sky,
From the sky, from the sky,
To the earth below.
Watch them as they dance and whirl, dance and whirl, dance and whirl
Watch them as they dance and whirl,
Soft white winter snow.



Sung to: "I'm A Little Teapot"

Build a Little Snowman
- Author Unknown

Build a little snowman,
Starting with his feet.
Put on more snow,
And pack it nice and neat.
Next to make a round ball
And place it on the top…
Then hope the sun doesn't get too hot!



Sung to: "Frere Jaques"

Build a Snowman
- Author Unknown

Build a snowman, build a snowman
Big and round, big and round
Sun is shining on him
Sun is shining on him
He's al gone, he's all gone



Sung to: "Frere Jaques"

It is Snowing
- Author Unknown

It is snowing, it is snowing
All around, all around
Soft and quiet snowflakes,
Soft and quiet snowflakes,
Not a sound, not a sound




Sung to: "I'm A Little Teapot"

I'm A Friendly Snowpal
- Author Unknown

I'm a friendly snowpal, big and fat
Here is my tummy and here is my hat
I have two funny eyes and a carrot nose.
I'm all snow from my head o my toes

I have two bright eyes so I can see
All the snow falling down on me
When the weather's cold, I'm strong and tall
But when it's warm, I get very small



Sung to: "The Farmer In the Dell"

Frost
- Author Unknown

The frost is on the trees (point up)
The frost is on the ground (point down)
The frost is on the window (make window with hands)
The frost is all around!

The frost is very icy, (shiver)
The frost is very bright (cover eyes with hands)
The frost is very slippery (slide one hand over the other)
The frost is very white!



Sung to: " teddy bear teddy bear"

Sing this Snowflake Song
- Author Unknown

Snowflake, snowflake falling down,
(flutter hands down)
Twirling, twirling to the ground.
(twirl to the ground)
Softly, lightly on my nose,
(touching nose)
Snowflake, snowflake icy cold!
(fold arms and shiver)



Sung to: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Sprinkle, Sprinkle, Little Snow
- Author Unknown

Sprinkle, sprinkle, little snow;
falling down on us below;
Small and white and powdery,
such a joy for all to see.
Sprinkle, sprinkle little snow;
Falling down on us below.






Disappearing Snowman Cookies
- Author Unknown

Five cookie snowmen sitting on a tray.
Five cookie snowman smiling all day.
Along came a little child, rubbing his tummy.
One cookie disappeared,
Yum, Yum, Yummy!!

Repeat to all the cookies are gone.



Five Little Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Five little snowflakes
Dancing here and there.
Then one little snowflake blew away in the air!

Four little snowflakes
Dancing here and there.
Then one little snowflake blew away in the air!

Continue to zero.

Zero little snowflakes
Not one to be found.
Cause five little snowflakes have fallen to the ground!




Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

One little snowflake with nothing to do.
Along came another and
Then there were two.

Two little snowflakes playing in a tree.
Along came another, and
Then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some more.
Along came another, and
Then there were four.

Four little snowflakes that finally did arrive.
Along came another, and
Then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and
Then there were none!



Sung to: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Snowflake, Snowflake
- Author Unknown

Snowflake, snowflake, fancy free.
Snowflake, snowflake, dance with me.
Touch my head, then my toes.
Land on my nose where the cold wind blows.
Snowflake, snowflake, turn around.
Snowflake, snowflake, touch the ground.

Snowflake, snowflake, fancy free.
Snowflake, snowflake, dance with me.
Touch my elbow, then my shoulder,
Land on my chin where it's a little bit colder.
Snowflake, snowflake, turn around.
Snowflake, snowflake, touch the ground.

Snowflake, snowflake, fancy free.
Snowflake, snowflake, dance with me.
Touch my ear, then my knees.
Snowflake, I'm about to freeze!
Snowflake, snowflake, fancy free.
Snowflake, snowflake, dance with me.



5 Snowman Fingerplay
- Author Unknown

Five little snowmen
On a winter's day--
The first one said
Wake up so we can play

The second one said
Let's stomp on the ground
The third one said
Let's roll all around

The fourth one said
Let's run and run and run
The fifth one said
I'm afraid I feel the sun

Oh Dear, cried the snowmen
As they looked toward the sky
And the five melting snowmen
Waved a fond good-bye.




Sung to: "5 little monkeys"

Five Little Snowmen
- Author Unknown

Five little snowmen riding on the sled (pretend five fingers are sledding)
One fell off and bumped his head (pretend one finger falls off...rub head)
I called Frosty and Frosty said (dial imaginary telephone)
"No more snowmen, riding on that sled!" (say in a deep voice)
Four little snowmen... etc



Sung to: "Up on the house top"

Little Red Nose
- Author Unknown

Where did you get that little red nose? (point to nose)
Jack frost kissed it I suppose (kissing noise)
He kissed it once ( hold up one finger)
And he kissed it twice ( hold up 2 fingers)
Poor little nose is cold as ice! (pretend to shiver)



Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"

I'm a Little Snowman
- Author Unknown

I'm a little snowman short and fat.
Here's my scarf and here's my hat.
When the snow is falling come and play.
Build a snowman every day.



Sung to: "Hokey Pokey"


The Snowkey Pokey
- Author Unknown

You put your right mitten in,
you take your right mitten out,
you put your right mitten in
and you shake it all about.

You do the snowkey pokey
and you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about.

Additional verses:
You put your left mitten in . . .
You put your right boot in . . .
You put your left boot in . . .
You put your hat in . . .
You put your snowself in . . .






Sung to: "10 Little Indians"

10 Little Icicles
- Author Unknown

One little, two little, three little icicles,
Four little, five little, six little icicles,
Seven little, eight little, nine little icicles,
Ten little icicles hanging from the roof.



Chanted to: "Way up high in the apple tree"

Winter Song
- Author Unknown

Way up high in the snowy tree
Lots of little snowflakes smiled at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could.
Down came the snowflakes
Were they cold!



Sung to: "Row, row, row your boat"

Catching Snow
Exclusive by © Christa of Preschool Education .Com

Snow, snow, falling down,
Falling all around.
Stick out your tongue,
And catch a ton,
Before they touch the ground.



Sung to: "Twinkle, twinkle little star"

Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Snowflakes, snowflakes twirling round,
Snowflakes falling to the ground.
What a pretty sight to see,
Winter fun for you and me.
Snowflakes, snowflakes twirling round,
Snowflakes falling to the ground.

Snowflakes, snowflakes tickle my tongue.
Let’s throw snowballs one by one.
Build a snowman, sled and skate.
Come outside, don’t be late.
Snowflakes, snowflakes tickle my tongue.
Let’s throw snowballs one by one.




Five Little Eskimos
- Author Unknown

Five little Eskimos by the igloo door .
One went out to feed the dogs, then there were four.
Four little Eskimos rowing out to sea,
One jumped on an iceberg, then there were three.
Three little Eskimos making fish stew,
One burned his finger, then there were two.
Two little Eskimos hunting for fun,
One chased a baby seal, then there was one.
One little Eskimo all his work done,
Went home to supper, then there were none.



My Igloo
- Author Unknown

My igloo is round with a tiny door. (Make circle w/hands then hold hand low to ground.)
It's made of cold ice & snow. (Pretend to shiver.)
The inside is covered with blankets & fur. (Spread hands over wide area.)
So it's warm when the winter winds blow. (Hug self to keep warm.)



Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a Little Snow Pal
- Author Unknown

I'm a little snow pal running by you,
I'm made of snow, this is true.
But when the children ask me to play
I just cannot sit all day.



Snowy Surprise
- Author Unknown

Sometimes the snow falls when I'm sleeping, (Rest cheek on folded hands.)
I'm so surprised when I awake. (Stretch and yawn.)
I look out at the world around me, (Look around.)
It looks like a frosted birthday cake! (Rub tummy and lick lips.)



Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a Friendly Snowman
- Author Unknown

I'm a friendly snowman big and fat, (Stretch arms out at sides.)
Here is my tummy and here is my hat. (Point to tummy, then top of head.)
I'm a happy fellow, here's my nose, (Smile, then point to nose.)
I'm all snow from my head to my toes. (Point to head, then to toes.)

I have two bright eyes so I can see (Point to eyes.)
All the snow falling down on me. (Flutter fingers downward.)
When the weather's cold I'm strong and tall, (Stand up tall.)
But when it's warm I get very small. (Crouch down low.)



Two Little Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Way up high in the winter sky,
2 little snowflakes caught my eye.
Down to the ground they fell without a sound.
And before very long,
It was snowing all around.



Merry Snowflakes
- Author Unknown

Merry little snowflakes falling to the ground, (fingers flutter life falling snow)
They're landing on the treetops, covering our town. (fingers flutter)
They softly fall on noses (touch nose)
And make our hair look white. (touch hair)
They seem to call, 'Come out and play!' ('come here' motion)
As they fall throughout the night. (repeat first action)



Sung to: "On Top of Spaghetti"

Mt. Frosty
- Author Unknown

On Top of Mt. Frosty
All covered with snow
My toes, they were freezing
Oh don't you know

I wore a furry coat
To keep me warm
I never planned on
This coming storm

My fingers are freezing
There as cold as can be
My mittens aren't as warm
As they ought to be

My ears are ice cycles
My nose is too
If it gets any colder
I won't know what to do



Sung to: "Row row row your boat"

Blowing Nose Song
- Author Unknown

Blow blow blow your nose
That's the way it goes
Sniff, sniff? No, No!
You should always blow




Ten Warm Mittens
- Author Unknown

Ten warm mittens, hanging on the line,
One blows away and then there are nine.

Nine warm mittens, one without a mate,
A squirrel carries one away and that leaves eight.

Eight warm mittens, just eight not eleven,
One gets buried in the snow and that leaves seven.

Seven warm mittens, which one do you pick?
I'll pick the red one and that leaves six.

Six warm mittens, put one on to try.
Then you take it from the line and that leaves five.

Five warm mittens, we had ten before!
A fluffy bunny needs one and that leaves four!

Four warm mittens, two for you and two for me,
I lost one on the ski slope and that leaves three.

Three warm mittens, looking very new,
One falls into the mud and that leaves two.

Two warm mittens, drying in the sun,
A bird comes down and snatches it and that leaves one.

One warm mitten, what good is one?
A little mouse can have a bed, and that leaves none!



Snowball
- Author Unknown

I made myself a snowball
Just as perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me
I gave it some pajamas
And a pillow for it's head.
Then, last might it ran away,
But first-it wet the bed! Gotcha!



Winter Hokey Pokey
- Author Unknown

You put your mitten in, you take your mitten out
You put your boots in, you take your boots out
You put your coat in, you put your coat out
You put your hat in, you put your hat out
You put your scarf in, you put your scarf out







Children's Winter Poems and Cut Outs

DLTK's Crafts for Kids


Includes a printable template, craft or coloring suggestion to go with each poem
which may be printed out in either color or black & white.


Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things,
but just look what they do when they stick together.

Verna M. Kelly













Five Little Snowflakes Felt Board Rhyme
Contributed by Leanne Guenther

You can use the rhyme with the templates a few ways. Try giving each child one of the templates and encourage them to hold it up at the appropriate time in the rhyme (you can tape a straw or popsicle stick onto the bottom to make them like puppets... The kids seem to like waving puppets around more than just holding up pieces of paper).

You could also make the templates as felt board characters. Simply glue a small piece of coarse sandpaper or felt onto the back of each template so it will hang on the felt board. Place the pieces onto the felt board as you do the rhyme.

Optional: cover the templates in clear contact paper (bought as a roll from your local office supply store for under $5) to make them last longer.

Optional: If you want to practice number identification with the kids, replace Template 1 (the snowflake with the face) with the Simple Shapes Snowflake.

Write the numbers 1 thru 5 in the center of the simple shapes snowflake.


Five Little Snowflakes

One little snowflake with nothing to do.

Along came another and
Then there were two.

Two little snowflakes laughing with me.
Along came another, and
Then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some more.
Along came another, and
Then there were four.

Four little snowflakes dancing a jive.
Along came another, and
Then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and
Then there were none!


*This last poem may be done in sections by the season
- as example:













Snowflakes
by Linda A. Copp


















Three Little Kittens
Contributed by Leanne Guenther

Three little kittens, they lost their mittens,
And they began to cry:
"O mother dear,
We fear, we fear,
That we have lost our mittens."

What? Lost your mittens!
You naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.
"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow."
No, you shall have not pie.

Three little kittens, they found their mittens,
And they began to cry:
"O mother dear,
See here, see here!
See! we have found our mittens."
Put on your mittens
You silly kittens,
And you may have some pie.
"Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r,"
O let us have the pie.

The three little kittens put on their mittens,
And soon ate up the pie;
"O mother dear,
We greatly fear,
Our mittens we have soiled."

What? Soiled your mittens!
You naughty kittens!
Then they began to sigh,
"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow."

The three little kittens, they washed their mittens,
And hung them out to dry;
"O mother dear,
Do you not hear,
That we have washed our mittens?"

What? Washed your mittens!
Oh, you're good kittens.
But I smell a mouse close by;
Hush! hush! "Mee-ow, mee-ow.
We smell a mouse close by,

"Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow."













Saturday, November 8, 2014

Dylan Thomas - Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night


Laocoön and his Sons, Greek, (Late Hellenistic), perhaps a copy,
between 200 BC and 20 AD, White marble, Vatican Museum

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night


Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

- Dylan Thomas, 1951



Anaylsis


Written for his dying father, it is one of Thomas's most popular and accessible poems. The poem has no title other than its first line, "Do not go gentle into that good night," a line which appears as a refrain throughout. The poem's other equally famous refrain is "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."


When Dylan Thomas was a little boy his father would read Shakespeare to him at bedtime. The boy loved the sound of the words, even if he was too young to understand the meaning. His father, David John Thomas, taught English at a grammar school in southern Wales but wanted to be a poet. He was bitterly disappointed with his station in life.

Many years later when the father lay on his deathbed, Dylan Thomas wrote a poem that captures the profound sense of empathy he felt for the dying old man. The poem, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,” was written in 1951, only two years before the poet’s own untimely death at the age of 39. Despite the impossibility of escaping death, the anguished son implores his father to “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

The poem is a beautiful example of the villanelle form, which features two rhymes and two alternating refrains in verse arranged into five tercets, or three-lined stanzas, and a concluding quatrain in which the two refrains are brought together as a couplet at the very end. You can hear Thomas’s famous 1952 recital of the poem above.


Dylan Thomas's most famous poem, known by its first line "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," is also the most famous example of the poetic form known as the villanelle. Yet, the poem's true importance lies not in its fame, but in the raw power of the emotions underlying it. Thomas uses the poem to address his dying father, lamenting his father's loss of health and strength, and encouraging him to cling to life. The urgency of the speaker's tone has kept the poem among the world's most-read works in English for more than half a century.

Dylan Thomas was an introverted, passionate, lyrical writer (lyrical = a kind of poem or work that expresses personal feelings) who felt disconnected from the major literary movement of his day – the high modernism of T.S. Eliot and Wallace Stevens. Thomas was born in Wales in the year that World War I began, 1914, and his reactions to the events of the two World Wars strongly influenced his writing. His first book of poetry made him instantly famous at the age of twenty. Thomas embraced fame in much the same way that another passionate poet, Lord Byron, had done two hundred years earlier – by adopting wild rock-star behavior and intense displays of feeling, especially in his public poetry readings.

Thomas was also known to be a heavy drinker. Sadly, only two years after writing "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" about his father's approaching death, Thomas himself died, probably from alcohol poisoning and abuse, although the exact details of his death are controversial. His premature death at the age of 39 is reminiscent of the early death of another Romantic poet, John Keats. Like Keats, Thomas died before he fully expressed his literary potential; but, also like Keats, he left behind a few enduring works that promise to last through the ages.

Poetic Form

Wikipedia - Villanelle Form

The villanelle consists of five stanzas of three lines (tercets) followed by a single stanza of four lines (a quatrain) for a total of nineteen lines. It is structured by two repeating rhymes and two refrains: the first line of the first stanza serves as the last line of the second and fourth stanzas, and the third line of the first stanza serves as the last line of the third and fifth stanzas. The rhyme-and-refrain pattern of the villanelle can be schematized as A1bA2 abA1 abA2 abA1 abA2 abA1A2 where letters ("a" and "b") indicate the two rhyme sounds, upper case indicates a refrain ("A"), and superscript numerals (1 and 2) indicate Refrain 1 and Refrain 2.

The pattern is below set against "Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas:


The villanelle has no established meter, although most 19th-century villanelles have used trimeter or tetrameter and most 20th-century villanelles have used pentameter. Slight alteration of the refrain line is permissible.



Poem Recital by Dylan Thomas




A Brief Biography of Dylan Thomas




Elegy, Poem Recital by Richard Burton



Elegy
by Dylan Thomas


This poem was left unfinished at Dylan Thomas' death.
The first seventeen lines were untouched,
but the rest was reconstructed/edited from
Thomas' manuscript by his friend Vernon Watkins.


Too proud to die; broken and blind he died
The darkest way, and did not turn away,
A cold kind man brave in his narrow pride

On that darkest day, Oh, forever may
He lie lightly, at last, on the last, crossed
Hill, under the grass, in love, and there grow

Young among the long flocks, and never lie lost
Or still all the numberless days of his death, though
Above all he longed for his mother's breast

Which was rest and dust, and in the kind ground
The darkest justice of death, blind and unblessed.
Let him find no rest but be fathered and found,

I prayed in the crouching room, by his blind bed,
In the muted house, one minute before
Noon, and night, and light. the rivers of the dead

Veined his poor hand I held, and I saw
Through his unseeing eyes to the roots of the sea.
(An old tormented man three-quarters blind,

I am not too proud to cry that He and he
Will never never go out of my mind.
All his bones crying, and poor in all but pain,

Being innocent, he dreaded that he died
Hating his God, but what he was was plain:
An old kind man brave in his burning pride.

The sticks of the house were his; his books he owned.
Even as a baby he had never cried;
Nor did he now, save to his secret wound.

Out of his eyes I saw the last light glide.
Here among the liught of the lording sky
An old man is with me where I go

Walking in the meadows of his son's eye
On whom a world of ills came down like snow.
He cried as he died, fearing at last the spheres'

Last sound, the world going out without a breath:
Too proud to cry, too frail to check the tears,
And caught between two nights, blindness and death.

O deepest wound of all that he should die
On that darkest day. oh, he could hide
The tears out of his eyes, too proud to cry.

Until I die he will not leave my side.)


- Dylan Thomas, 1953