Saturday, July 24
I will be writing stanzas of this poem on our bathroom chalkboard each day this week. At least the brisk wind is keeping the house cool!
The Wind in a Frolic
by William Howitt
The wind one morning sprang up from sleep,
Saying, "Now for a frolic! now for a leap!
Now for a madcap galloping chase!
I'll make a commotion in every place!"
So it swept with a bustle right through a great town,
Cracking the signs and scattering down
Shutters; and whisking, with merciless squalls,
Old women's bonnets and gingerbread stalls.
There never was heard a lustier shout,
As the apples and oranges trundled about;
And the urchins that stand with their thievish eyes
For ever on watch, ran off each with a prize.
The away to the field it went, blustering and humming,
And the cattle all wondered whatever was coming;
It plucked by the tails the grave matronly cows,
And tossed the colts' manes all over their brows;
Till, offended at such an unusual salute,
They all turned their backs, and stood sulky and mute.
So on it went capering and playing its pranks,
Whistling with reeds on the broad river's banks,
Pulling the birds as they sat on the spray,
Or the traveler grave on the king's highway.
It was not too nice to hustle the bags
Of the beggar, and flutter his dirty rags;
T'was so bold that it feared not to play its joke
With the doctor's wig or the gentleman's cloak.
Through the forest it roared, and cried gaily,
"Now, You sturdy old oaks, I"ll make you bow!"
And it made them bow without more ado,
Or it cracked their great branches through and through.
Then it rushed like a monster on cottage and farm,
Striking their dwellers with sudden alarm;
And then ran out like bees in a midsummer swarm;
There were dames with the kerchiefs tied over their caps,
To see if their poultry were free from mishaps;
The turkeys they gobbled, the geese screamed aloud,
And the hens crept to roost in a terrified crowd;
There was rearing of ladders, and logs laying on,
Where the thatch from the roof threatened soon to be gone.
But the wind had swept on, and had met in a lane
With a schoolboy, who panted and struggled in vain;
For it tossed him and twirled him, then passed, and he stood
With his hat in a pool and his shoes in the mud.
Then away went the wind in its holiday glee.
And now it was far on the billowy sea,
And the lordly ships felt its staggering blow,
And the little boats darted to and fro.
But lo! it was night, and it sank to rest
On eht sea-bird's rock in the gleaming West,
Laughing to think, in its fearful fun,
How little of mischief it really had done.
Friday, July 23
Community Cleanup, lots of wind
Today was a big community cleanup, and the wind was fierce. We've been told repeatedly that July and August are the time for wind. The community gathered to make everything look nice for the ordination of a priest from Karumalun on August 1st. People from all over the Russells will also be coming for Confirmation the night before. So, we all weeded and raked like crazy today. The kids came out for about an hour to work before they started school. We decided to burn because we have a huge old tree that fell down last year to serve as a great place to contain the fire. However, we should have checked to see what our neighbors were doing first. After we started burning, we had some irate people come and complain about the smoke, then we noticed that nobody else was burning. This evening, the piles were all lit and danced against the dark night sky. I think my sides and back are going to be sore from all of the raking I did today.
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