Nature: Practice

by H.D. Carberry

We have neither Summer nor Winter

Neither Autumn nor Spring.

We have instead the days

When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields-

Magnificently.

The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs

And there is no sound but thee swish of water in the gullies

And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.

Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango trees’

And the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.

But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossom

When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,

When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air,

When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars

And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.

1. Why is the word 'reaped' used to describe the canefields?
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2. Write down two words from the poem which are related to the sound of movement of rain water.
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ii. _________________________________________________________________


3. What is the difference between the climate in Jamaica and countries with temperature climates?
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4. Write down two words from the poem which are related to the elements in the solar system.
i. _________________________________________________________________
ii. _________________________________________________________________


5. Why do you think the trees have to struggle in the wind? 
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6. What do you think the roofs of the houses are made of?
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7. Why do you think the poet uses the word "beauty'?
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8. What do you think the last line means in relation to man's life?
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9. What type of climate does Jamaica have?
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10. What does the sun look like on hot days?
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11. How do canefields look when they are ready for harvesting?
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12. Why should canefields be left to fallow in the sun?
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