“Day” by Sir Cecil Spring Rice

Day
‘I am busy’ said the sea.
‘I am busy’ Think of me
making continents to be.
‘I am busy” said the sea

‘I am busy’ said the rain.
‘When I fall it’s not in vain;
Wait and you will see the grain.
I am busy.’ Said the rain.

‘I am busy” said the air,
‘Blowing here and blowing there,
Up and down and everywhere.
I am busy,' said the air.

‘I am busy,’ said the sun.
‘All my planets, every one,
Know my work is never done.
I am busy, said the sun.

Sea and rain and air and sun,
Here’s a fellow toiler – one,
Whose task will soon be done.


“Poetry”
“Day” by Sir Cecil Spring Rice
The poet wrote about some of the world’s most wonderful workers and how busy they are. When we have finished our task, they will be still hard at work. The poet says that he is a fellow worker, unlike the sea, rain, air and sun his task will soon be done because he will die one day. His work is not as important as that of the four elements.
Commentary:
The rhyme scheme is aaaa, bbbb, cccc, dddd, eeee. Each stanza begin in the same way with the same statement: “I’m busy”. A clear, easy comparison is made. The poem consists of five verses or stanzas.
“Questions”1-
What’s the theme of the poem?The poet writes about the work of the four elements of nature and compares it to the man’s work. The work of nature will never finish while the work of man ends because he will die one day.

2- What are the figures of speech in the poem?
In the poem the poet personifies the four elements of nature as if they were people who can talk and have jobs to do.
This is clear in ““I’m busy,” said the sea”
The poet uses the alliteration in “said the sea” to give music to the line.
The poet uses contrast in “here” “there” and “up” “down”.


3- In what way is the man different from the elements of nature according to the poet in this poem?
The work of man will finish one day because he will die while the work of nature will never finish or come to an end.


4- Quote the lines that show:
a-the work of the elements of nature.
“I’m busy”, said the sea.
I’m busy think of me.
Making continents to be.
“I’m busy”, said the sea.
“I’m busy’, said the rain.
When I fall, it’s not in vain.
Wait and you will see the grain.
“I’m busy”, said the rain.
“I’m busy “, said the air.
Blowing here and blowing thee.
Up and down and everywhere.
“I’m busy”, said the air.
“I’m busy”, said the sun.
All my planets, every one.
Know my work is never done.
“I’m busy”, said the sun.

b-The comparison between man’s work and that of the elements of nature:
Sea and rain and air and sun.
Here is a fellow toiler one
Whose task will soon be done