The Raven/ Edgar Allan Poe

The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe

Photo: http://www.trollishdelver.com/2015/10/fear-week-raven.html

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, 

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. 

“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door— 

Only this and nothing more.” 

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore— 

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore— 

Nameless here for evermore. 

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;— 

This it is and nothing more.” 

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, 

“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; 

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, 

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, 

That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;— 

Darkness there and nothing more. 

Annabel Lee/ Edgar Allan Poe

Annabel Lee

Edgar Allan Poe 

It was many and many a year ago, 

In a kingdom by the sea, 

That a maiden there lived whom you may know 

By the name of Annabel Lee; 

And this maiden she lived with no other thought 

Than to love and be loved by me. 

I was a child and she was a child, 

In this kingdom by the sea, 

But we loved with a love that was more than love— 

I and my Annabel Lee— 

With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven 

Coveted her and me. 

And this was the reason that, long ago, 

In this kingdom by the sea, 

A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling 

My beautiful Annabel Lee; 

So that her highborn kinsmen came 

And bore her away from me, 

To shut her up in a sepulchre

In this kingdom by the sea. 

Annabel Lee: A Song

Exercise 4

1. It’s high time we sat down and discussed this matter.
2. May and Jill work well together; they are definitely on the same wavelength.
3. Rather than work in such bad conditions, he would give up.
4. I don’t care where we go to eat; it’s up to you.
5. It is up to Johnny to tell Karen the bad news.
6. Rick is very naughty; nobody knows what he will be up to next.
7. Peter is not up to the job.

Stopping by Woods on A Snowy Evening/ Robert Frost

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening/ Robert Frost

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Robert Frost 

Photo: quantabeh

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow. 

My little horse must think it queer 5 

To stop without a farmhouse near 

Between the woods and frozen lake 

The darkest evening of the year. 

He gives his harness bells a shake 

To ask if there is some mistake. 10 

The only other sounds the sweep 

Of easy wind and downy flake. 

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, 

But I have promises to keep, 

And miles to go before I sleep, 15

And miles to go before I sleep.

181017-恩典。蚵寮爸媽、哥哥嫂嫂送的食物

 

Exercise 3

1. He couldn’t stretch out his money to the end of the month.
2. He stretched himself out in front of the fire and fell asleep.
3. We were supposed to meet at eight, but he stood me up.
4. People should stand up for what they think is right.
5. Sit the box down next to the desk.
6. I don’t want to leave; I’m going to stick around for a while.
7. It’s getting late; let’s call it a day.
8. We were pressed for answers to our problems.
9. We’re pressed for time; we’d better hurry.

The Road Not Taken/ Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken 

Robert Frost

Photo: David Joly 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood 

And looked down one as far as I could 

To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair, 

And having perhaps the better claim, 

Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 

Though as for that the passing there 

Had worn them really about the same,

Exercise 2

1. Hold your horse! You can’t just leave like that. 

2. “When can we open the presents?” In good time; be patient.”
3. Computer software for learning English is useful because students can work at their own pace.
4. Peter lost track of the time and nearly missed the meeting. 

5. George likes to go out for an expensive dinner once in a while.
6. Watch the time or you’ll be late.
7. Our food soon ran out.
8. Mike is by far the shortest student in the class.

Nothing Gold Can Stay/ Robert Frost

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Robert Frost

Photo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfmFnveOuNM
Nature’s first green is gold, 
Her hardest hue to hold. 
Her early leaf’s a flower; 
But only so an hour. 
Then leaf subsides to leaf. 
So Eden sank to grief, 
So dawn goes down to day. 
Nothing gold can stay.

Mending Wall