The Florida Beach

1. The Florida Beach By: Constance Fenimore Woolson Cassie Check

2. The Florida Beach OUR drift-wood fire burns drowsily, The fog hangs low afar, A thousand sea-birds fearlessly Hover above the bar; Our boat is drawn far up the strand, Beyond the tide's long reach; Like a fringe to the dark green winter land, Shines the silvery Florida beach. Behind, the broad pine barrens lie Without a path or trail, Before, the ocean meets the sky Without a rock or sail. We call across to Africa, As a poet called to Spain: A murmur of "Antony! Antony!" The waves bring back in refrain. Far to the south the beach shines on, Dotted with giant shells; Coral sprays from the white reef won, Radiate spiny cells; Glass-like creatures that ride the waves, With azure sail and oar, And wide-mouthed things from the deep sea caves That melt away on the shore. Wild ducks gaze as we pass along: They have not learned to fear; The mocking-bird keeps on his song In the low palmetto near; The sluggish stream from the everglade Shows the alligator's track, And the sea is broken in light and shade With the heave of the dolphin's back. The Spanish light-house stands in haze: The keeper trims his light; No sail he sees through the long, long days, No sail through the still, still night; But ships that pass far out at sea, Along the warm Gulf Stream, From Cuba and tropic Carribee, Keep watch for his distant gleam. Alone, alone we wander on, In the southern winter day. Through the dreamy veil the fog has spun The world seems far away; The tide comes in-the birds fly low, As if to catch our speech. Ah, Destiny! Why must we ever go Away from the Florida beach?

3. The Florida Beach • Lyric Poem • Rhyming Verse

4. iamb ( ~/) anapest (~~/ ) spondee (//) dactyl ( /~~) trochee ( /~ ) The Florida Beach iambs = one short and one long as in abovetrochees = one long and one short as in appledactyls = one long and two short as in tenderlyanapests = two short and one log as in unaware spondee= a stressed syllable followed by another syllable of approximately equal stress, as in "hot dog" ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / Far to the south the beach shines on, ~ / ~ / ~ / Dotted with giant shells; ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / Coral sprays from the white reef won, ~ / ~ / ~ / Radiate spiny cells; The meter of the poem is iambic tetrameter alternated with iambic trimeter.

5. The Florida Beach • The theme of the poem involves focusing on the elements of nature that create the ocean and shore. The poet describes all the wonderful natural aspects that combine to create the Florida coast. She writes about all the sights and sounds she encounters looking at the beach from aboard a boat, not wanting to disturb the nature untouched by man. She reminds the reader how wonderfully simple nature is, not wanting to leave this peaceful place at the end of the poem.

6. The Florida Beach The mocking-bird keeps on his song In the low palmetto near; • The mockingbird symbolizes innocence. It is a creature that does no harm to anybody and only provides joy to others by singing its song.

7. The Florida Beach IMAGERY The poet’s lines are detailed and descriptive that portray the images she sees. • Fire burns drowsily • Glass-like creatures that ride the waves • Sluggish stream • Dreamy veil the fog has spun

8. The Florida Beach The poem describes the aspects and characteristics of nature that all together form The Florida Beach, the title of the poem.

9. The Florida Beach The meaning of the poem is to marvel at how wonderfully the beach exists undisturbed. She implies how perfect the beach setting is because it has not been marked by human touch.

10. About Constance FenimoreWoolson • American novelist and short story writer • Born in New Hampshire, but moved to Ohio after the death of her three sisters from scarlet fever • Published her first novel Anne in 1880, followed by three others: East Angels (1886), Jupiter Lights (1889) and Horace Chase (1894) • Suffered from long periods of depression and isolation due to a hearing impairment that brought on increasing deafness • Moved to St. Augustine, Florida after the Civil War March 5, 1840 – January 24, 1894

11. My Original Poem By: Cassie Check

12. Always With Me By my side morning, noon, and night. Protecting me without reservation and guiding me through temptation. Teaching me right from wrong—good and bad. Enlightening me of life’s importance. Reminding me of everyday blessings and creating miracles with no explanation. Acknowledging my faults and failures by overshadowing my every move. Observing my trials and tribulations and comforting me through times of need. Leading me on the right path. Preparing me for eternal life. …MY Guardian Angel

13. Presented by: Cassie CheckDate: September 28, 2009 Class: ECE 3602 Bibliography: Burleson, Carolyn O. "Exploring Poetry." Poets' Corner. The Poets' Corner Editorial Staff. Web. 25 Sept. 2009. <http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/>.