Bonnie Bell

The smiling spring comes in rejoicing.

And surly winter grimly flies:

Now crystal clear are the falling waters.

And bonnie blue are the sunny skies;

Fresh o'er the mountains breaks forth the morning,

The evening gilds the ocean's swell;

All creatures ioy in the sun's returning,

And I rejoice in my bonnie Bell.

The flowery spring leads sunny summer,

And yellow autumn presses near,

Then in his turn comes gloomy winter,

Till smiling spring again appear.

Thus seasons dancing, lite advancing,

Old Time and Nature their changes tell;

But never ranging, still unchanging

I adore my bonnie Bell.

(R. Burns)

(b) Split up sentences into intonation groups. Single out the communicative centre and the nuclear word of each into­nation group. Think of the intonation means they are to be made prominent with. Mark the stresses and tunes. De­termine the rhyme scheme and choose the suitable pattern of rhythm and tempo.

(c) Read the poems aloud in class. Let the teacher and fellow-students listen to you and decide whether your reading is expressive enough to be easily understood without refer­ence to the printed version. Memorize the poems.

9. Find texts exemplifying the language of poetry and prepare them for recitation in class.