(After Rilke)

Spring has returned! Everything has returned!
The earth, just like a schoolgirl, memorizes
Poems, so many poems. … Look, she has learned
So many famous poems, she has earned so many prizes!

Teacher was strict. We delighted in the white
Of the old man’s beard, bright like the snow’s:
Now we may ask which names are wrong, or right
For “blue,” for “apple,” for “ripe.” She knows, she knows!

Lucky earth, let out of school, now you must play
Hide-and-seek with all the children every day:
You must hide that we may seek you: we will! We will!

The happiest child will hold you. She knows all the things
You taught her: the word for “hope,” and for “believe,”
Are still upon her tongue. She sings and sings and sings.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Delmore Schwartz's poem The Spring

7 Comments

  1. jesus says:

    this poem is good

  2. Kristinia says:

    very descriptive poem . im usin this poam for a project at school.

  3. Ben says:

    i think im going to use this poem for a project for school and i think that this poem is very good

  4. Samantha says:

    Hello,
    my name is Sami.Im doing a project for school and Im using this poem because its very good and entertaining!Thank you!

  5. Courtney Jaket says:

    I think this is a great and well thought out poem but I do think using a few simpler words might help because in some parts it is hard to tell what the writer is meaning. Maryssa I think your comment was a bit harsh considering you didn’t even read the full poem but I’m sure if you had read it all you would have seen it from a different point of view.

  6. Faith says:

    It’s not that boring…probably the reason why you think it is boring and that you can’t finish it because you probably can’t read that and I bet you are not into poetry…

  7. Maryssa says:

    This poem is so boring i couldn’t even fi nish reading

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