Class 6 :: English Literature :: Swift Things are Beautiful by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Swift Things are Beautiful
by Elizabeth Coatsworth
The Poem:
"Swift things are beautiful:
Swallows and deer,
And lighting that falls
Bright-veined and clear,
Rivers and meteors,
Wind and the wheat,
The strong-withered horse,
The runner's sure feet.
And slow things are beautiful;
The closing of day,
The pause of the wave
That curves downward to spray,
The ember that crumbles,
The opening flower,
And the ox that moves on
In the quiet of power."
The Summary of the Poem:
This poem describes contrasting images of swift and slow things. The poet says that both the swift and slow things are part of the beautiful world. We should observe the beauty of both of them.
In the first para of the poem, the poet says that swift things are beautiful. Then she gives the examples of swallows and the deer. She says about the lighting which are like the veins made of clear lights. The poet further says about the rivers, meteors and the strong wind in the field of wheat. She ends up the first para by giving the example of the stout shouldered horse and the agile feet of a runner.
In the second para, the poet says that the slow things of the nature are also beautiful. She says about the setting of the sun at the end of the day which marks the closing of the day. She gives example of the pause of the wave before it goes downwards. She then says about the burning coal which slowly breaks into smaller pieces. The poet ends the para as well as the poem by giving instances of the opening of a flower and the slow pace of an ox.
Comprehension
1. Arrange the following in increasing order of speed. Number them from 1 to 5.
a. a river. [4]
b. a meteor. [1]
c. a deer. [2]
d. an opening flower. [5]
e. a runner. [3]
2. What does it mean when the poet calls lighting 'bright-veined'?
= When the poet calls lighting 'bright-veined', he means about the lighting which are like the veins made of clear lights.
3. What does it mean for a runner to have 'sure' feet?
= For a runner to have 'sure' feet means that the runner is confident and have strong, agile lower limbs to reach his goal.
4. What does 'the closing of day' refer to in the poem?
= In the poem, 'the closing of day' refers to the setting of the sun at the end of the day which marks the closing of the day.
5. "And the ox that moves on
In the quiet of power."
What does the term 'quiet of power' mean here?
= The term 'quiet of power' means that the ox is with all its power but not showing any rage. It is calm and quiet with all the perception of its own power and strength.
6. What image does the phrase 'wind in the wheat' create?
= The phrase 'wind in the wheat' creates a vivid image of nature. The poet means to say about the strong wind that blows smoothly over the field of wheat.
7. Read the poem again to note each swift and slow thing the poet finds beautiful. Are there any items on the list that you find unusual?
= In the first para of the poem, the poet says that swift things are beautiful. Then she gives the examples of swallows and the deer. She says about the lighting which are like the veins made of clear lights. The poet further says about the rivers, meteors and the strong wind in the field of wheat. She ends up the first para by giving the example of the stout shouldered horse and the agile feet of a runner.
In the second para, the poet says that the slow things of the nature are also beautiful. She says about the setting of the sun at the end of the day which marks the closing of the day. She gives example of the pause of the wave before it goes downwards. She then says about the burning coal which slowly breaks into smaller pieces. The poet ends the para as well as the poem by giving instances of the opening of a flower and the slow pace of an ox.
I do not find any one of the list unusual. The poet is very skilled to describe all those swift and slow things. She has very aptly used all the examples to present us an enjoyable poem.
About the Poet:
Elizabeth Coatsworth (1893-1986), born in New York, was an American writer of fiction and poetry for both children and adult. She won the Newbury medal in 1931 for her novel The Cat Who Went to Heaven. She wrote more than 100 books in her lifetime, and was influenced by her travel experiences from earlier years.