Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
1. EXPLORE W1.2 2.
3. 4. 5.
How would you describe the mood of the poem? You may use one of the words below or suggest your own.
optimistic carefree careless cautious
fearful bitter
poignant hopeful
Mood n. Definition: A temporary state of mind or feeling
Identify a line in the poem where the poet uses (a) assonance and (b) alliteration. Explain how the usage affects the meaning of the poem and you, the reader, e.g. does it improve the rhythm, does it make you slow down when reading, does it create harsh sounds?
The poet describes himself as ‘poor’. What do you think he means by this? (Hint: there are several possible meanings.)
Choose your favourite image from the poem. Explain how it relates to the theme of love and friendship, and why you like it.
What do you think is the main message of this poem?
CREATE
Think about a dream or goal that you have. Imagine that you are asked to talk about this for one minute. Plan what you would say (write in bullet points) and then practise in front of a classmate.
Give each other feedback, listing two things you liked and one thing they could improve on in their presentation. What did you learn from working with a classmate?
