The Morning Sun is Shining by Olive Schreiner
The morning sun is shining on
The green, green willow tree,
And sends a golden sunbeam
To dance upon my knee.
The fountain bubbles merrily,
The yellow locusts spring,
Of life and light and sunshine
The happy brown birds sing.
The earth is clothed with beauty,
The air is filled with song,
The yellow thorn trees load the wind
With odours sweet and strong.
There is a hand I never touch
And a face I never see;
Now what is sunshine, what is song,
Now what is light to me?
Questions
- What senses are engaged in this poem? Give one example of each.
- What is the tone of the first 12 lines?
- What is the tone of the last four lines?
- Explain this shift in tone.
- Who do you think the face and hand belong to in the last four lines?
