Sample Poetry Project Lines from “Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas

Subject: Someone reminsicing about their childhood. They describe spending time on a farm, and the beauty and freedom of the life of a child.

Lines from the end of “Fern Hill” Under the new made clouds and happy as the heart was long In the sun born over and over, I ran my heedless ways, My wishes raced through the house high hay And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows In all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs Before the children green and golden Follow him out of grace,

Occasion- Author/person was thinking about childhood, perhaps a big change in life caused reflection. A death? Audience- Adults who understand how fast life goes or who long for the ease of childhood.

Purpose- To share insight into how a person views time/memories as they age. You realize how quickly it passes by. Speaker- The voice is of someone older or mature, who has experience and knows loss.

Tone The tone created by the author is one of happiness and regret. The descriptions of the farm and nature provide the beautiful, tranquil images that evoke peace and happiness. The references to time passing and death coming ever nearer create a tone of sadness and regret that it is an inevitable part of the life process.

Diction that adds to the carefree, happy tone of the poem is “heedless ways…nothing I cared…” Children are often heedless, which means “thoughtful and unmindful.” The word choice is intended to show how easy it is for a child to enjoy themselves. They are not burdened down by experience, responsibility, or thoughts about the future and can fully live in the moment.

Imagery that contributes to the happy and light tone include the descriptions of the pastoral setting: “under the new made clouds…” “sun born over and over…” “lamb white days…” The reader can visualize the beautiful, warm days spent outdoors on a farm or bucolic setting; ideal places for children to romp freely.

These happy images contrast strongly with the diction and images that bring the poem’s darker tone: “Shadow…moon…farm forever fled…childless lands…dying…I sang in my chains like the sea.” Words like “shadow” connote darkness looming. The child is happily playing, innocent of time creeping slowly up on him…bringing reality and death ever closer with age.

Powerful details enhance the reader’s understanding of the tone as well. “Time held me green and dying, though I sang in my chains like the sea.” Time is personified, holding the child in his arms. The child is “green;” youthful and growing. Yet, even in youth, a person has started the aging process that inevitably leads towards death, although they are yet unaware. Innocently, they frolic and enjoy their youth, not realizing what the future brings. Time “chains” us in that we can’t escape its effects no matter how hard we try.

Language and Syntax The language is simple yet eloquent. Alliteration adds to the poetic effect: “house high hay” “green and golden” “farm forever fled” The syntax is long sentences, broken up into shorter phrases to emphasize certain phrases. The overall structure of the poem is occasional rhymes, but is mostly free verse. The entire poem has 6 stanzas of 9 lines each.

Literary Elements Poem has a pastoral setting- 'pastoral' refers to rural subjects and aspects of life in the countryside among shepherds, cowherds and other farm workers that are often romanticized and depicted in a highly unrealistic manner. shepherdscowherds romanticizedshepherdscowherds romanticized

Personification “My wishes raced through the house high hay” Wishes are “racing around” like a child would in excitement. “Time held me green and dying, Though I sang in my chains like the sea.” Time is described as a person, holding the child in his arms.

Alliteration “house high hay” “green and golden Follow him out of grace” “farm forever fled”

Allusion “it was Adam and maiden, The sky gathered again And the sun grew round that very day. “ Alludes to the Bible, when Adam and Eve were the first two people on earth.

Why did I pick this poem? This poem first struck me in high school. Dylan Thomas is one of my favorite poets because of the beauty of his words. They strike a chord with me. I like this particular poem because it reminds me of happy times in childhood and that we should never take life for granted. Life always hold us “green and dying, though I sang in my chains like the sea.”