To an Early Riser
Max Eastman
Original
The eastern hill hath scarce unveiled his head,
And the deliberate sky hath but begun
To meditate upon a future sun,
When thou dost rise from thy impatient bed.
Thy morning prayer unto the stars is said.
And not unlike a child, the penance done
Of sleep, thou goest to thy serious fun,
Exuberant--yet with a whisper tread!
And when that lord doth to the world appear,
The jovial sun, he leans on his old hill,
And levels forth to thee a golden smile--
Thee in his garden, where each warming year
Thou toilest in all joy with him, to fill
And flood the soil with Summer for a while.
Lightly Edited Version
The eastern hill has scarcely unveiled his head,
And the deliberate sky has but begun
To meditate upon a future sun,
When you do rise from your impatient bed.
Your morning prayer to the stars is said.
And like a child, the self-punishment done
Of sleep, you go to your serious fun,
Cheerful--yet with a whisper sound!
And when that lord doth to the world appear,
The friendly sun, he leans on his old hill,
And levels forth to you a golden smile--
You in his garden, where each warming year
You assist in all joy with him, to fill
And flood the soil with summer for a while.
Summary
The sun rises from the east and peeks over the hill. The stars disappear and the sun is filling the sky with it's summer warmth. It fills the garden with life and joy.
"The eastern hill has scarily unveiled his head,"
"The eastern hill has scarily unveiled his head,"
Speaker
-The speaker is the author.
-The speaker's mood is admiration because "And when that lord doth to the world appear...And levels forth to thee a golden smile...". He is admiring the sun's colorful morning glow and calling it the lord to the world.
-He has a positive attitude because he is writing about "The jovial sun..." rising in the morning.
-"Exuberant--yet with a whisper tread!"
-The author feels "exuberant" or cheerful
-The speaker's mood is admiration because "And when that lord doth to the world appear...And levels forth to thee a golden smile...". He is admiring the sun's colorful morning glow and calling it the lord to the world.
-He has a positive attitude because he is writing about "The jovial sun..." rising in the morning.
-"Exuberant--yet with a whisper tread!"
-The author feels "exuberant" or cheerful
Figurative Language
1) "The eastern hill hath scarce unveiled his head," the eastern hill is being personified.
6) "And not unlike a child, the penance done", simile
10) "The jovial sun, he leans on his old hill," the sun is being personified
6) "And not unlike a child, the penance done", simile
10) "The jovial sun, he leans on his old hill," the sun is being personified
Other Techniques
Rhyme Scheme
head A
Begun B
sun B
Bed A
Said A
done B
fun B
tread A
Appear C
hill D
Smile E
year C
Fill D
While E
head A
Begun B
sun B
Bed A
Said A
done B
fun B
tread A
Appear C
hill D
Smile E
year C
Fill D
While E
Theme
The poem To an Early Riser by Max Eastman has a topic of beauty and reveals that beauty is worth waiting for.
He is waiting for the sun to rise saying "...rise from your impatient bed...", and "...when that lord doth to the world appear...". Being an "Early Riser" means you waited all night for the sight of this beautiful sunrise.
He is waiting for the sun to rise saying "...rise from your impatient bed...", and "...when that lord doth to the world appear...". Being an "Early Riser" means you waited all night for the sight of this beautiful sunrise.
Andrew Clements, Cameron Lucas, and Zach Langley