Question

Listening Activity

Some phrases have been left out in the poem below. First, read the poem. Then, fill in the missing words on listening to the reading or the recording of it in full. You may listen again, if required

To Autumn

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained

With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit

Beneath my ______, there thou may’st rest,

And tune thy jolly voice to my ______;

And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

Sing now the ______of fruits and flowers.

“The ______opens her beauties to

The sun, and love runs in her ______;

Blossoms hang round the brows of morning and

Flourish down the ______of modest eve,

Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing,

And ______strew flowers round her head.

The spirits of the air live on the smells

Of fruit; and joy, with ______, roves round

The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.”

Thus sang the ______as he sat,

Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak

Hills fled from our sight; but left his ______.

William Blake

Answer 1

To Autumn

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained

With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit

Beneath my shady roof, there thou may’st rest,

And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe;

And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

“The narrow bud opens her beauties to

The sun and love runs in her thrilling veins;

Blossoms hang round the brows of morning and

Flourish down the bright cheek of modest eve,

Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing,

And feathered clouds strew flowers round her head.

The spirits of the air live on the smells

Of fruit; and joy, with pinions of light, roves round

The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.”

Thus sang the jolly autumn as he sat,

Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak

Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

William Blake