F5 POEM-

NATURE
NATURE
We have neither Summer nor Winter
Neither Autumn nor Spring
We have instead the days
When the gold sun shines on the lush
green canefields-
magnificently.



The day when the rain beats like bullets on
the roof
And there is no sound but the swish of
water in the gullies
And trees struggling in the high Jamaica
winds.
Also there are the days when the leaves
fade from off guango trees
And the reaped canefields lie bare and
fallow to the sun.
But the best of all are the days when the
mango and the logwood blossom
When bushes are full of sound of bees
and scent of honey,
When the tall grasses sways and shivers
to the slightest breath of air,
When the buttercups have paved the earth
with yellow stars
And beauty comes suddenly and the rains
have gone.
JAMAICA
Meaning of poem
We have neither
Summer nor Winter
Neither Autumn nor
Spring
We have instead the
days
When the gold sun
shines on the lush green
canefields-
magnificently
There are no seasons in
Jamaica, only the hot and
rainy season . The sun
shines down brightly and
strongly and the canefields
grow tall and in abundance.
The land is green and fertile.
(lush healthy and strong
Canefield- cane plantation
Magnificiently very brightly)
The day when the rain
beats like bullets on the
roof
And there is no sound
but the swish of water in
the gullies
And trees struggling in
the high Jamaica winds.

The climate suddenly
changes . Rains falls in
torrents and streams and
gullies (a narrow, rocky valley or
channel with steep sides, made by a
fast flowing stream ) fill up with
fast flowing water . There is
probably no other sound
because there is no activity
outside as everyone is
indoors. Furthermore, the
swish of water may drown
out everything else. Strong
winds blow throughout the
land.
Also there are the days
when the leaves fade
from off guango trees
And the reaped
canefields lie bare and
fallow to the sun.

Leaves drop from the
trees. Harvest is over
and fields lie barren.
Earth takes a rest.
(guango trees-names of
local Jamaica trees
Reaped- cut and gathered.
fallow- land that is ploughed
or dug not planted with crops)
But the best of all are the
days when the mango and
the logwood blossom
When bushes are full of
sound of bees and scent of
honey,
When the tall grasses sways
and shivers to the slightest
breath of air,
When the buttercups have
paved the earth with yellow
stars
And beauty comes suddenly
and the rains have gone.

Earth comes alive again.
There is regrowth and all is
plentiful and abundant.
Flowers are full of fragrance,
brimming with honey and
bees are busy. Grass grows
tall and luxuriant and
blossoms cover the earth.
The beauty and radiance of
nature is not only sudden
but at its best.
(logwood- names of local trees.
Sways and shivers- moves
gracefully)
Literal meaning
The beauty of the Jamaica sun and fields
comes alive in the poem. During the hot
season, the sun is bright and strong and
the canes are tall, thick and green.
On some days, rains come down heavily
on Jamaica houses. Gullies (a narrow, rocky
valley or channel with steep sides, made by a fast
flowing stream ) and streams quickly fill up
with water. The wind blows strongly and
trees feel the onslaught (a very powerful attack)
Then the weather changes again and all is
calm. It is warm again and the canes are
cut. Fields lie barren after the harvest.
Then there is a burst of energy and
rejuvenation (to make someone look or feel young
and energetic again) of life. The plants and
insects come out in abundance and this is
the best time of the year
Figurative meaning
The whole poem is a celebration of nature.
Nature too goes through its time of growth,
survival against the elements and even
death, then the time of idleness and then
suddenly a burst of beauty when nature
blossoms and is fruitful. This is natural
progression of time and nature too is
subject to the changes, this is the natural
cycle.
The pride of the poet feels for his country
is obvious. He loves the land where he
was born and the poem is a tribute to its
beauty
EXERCISES
1.The country that is portrayed in the
poem enjoys two seasons. What are they ?
2. Name one plantation crop mentioned Iin
the poem.
3. What does the phrase high Jamaica
winds signify ?
4. Describe briefly the effect of the wind
and rain on the land
5. which phrase suggest that harvesting is
over ?
6. What is meant by the word paved as
used in the poem ?
7. What do the yellow stars refer to ?
8. What evidence is there to show that
Nature is rich and bountiful ? Explain in
your own words.
1. The lush green canefields shows that
the land the poet writes about is
A) fertile
B) empty and bare
C) forested
D) productive all the year round
PRACTICE 1
A) The wind is so strong and the trees have to struggle
to stay in place and not be uprooted.
B) Autumn
C) We get a picture of a yellow-coloured field full of
buttercups.
D) i) Hot sunny season with all its beauty approaches
while the wet rainy days slip away
ii) 4 season- to see different scenes at different
seasons.
2 seasons- not so cold as there is no winter.

Practice 2
A) Hot sunny days and wet rainy days.
B) Sugar cane
C) The sound of bees and the scent of
honey
D)i) sun, rain, wind, trees, flowers, insects
ii) Yes, the weather is just the same as
Malaysia.
Practice 3
A). Sugar canes and mangoes
B) The sound of rain beating the roof, the sound
of water flowing in the gullies.
C) During the sunny season
D) i) No. he enjoys the present weather and
very grateful of what he has.
Ii) He is very happy as he describes the element
of the weather which is very suitable.