Winter Woods

 WOULD you like to walk to Elm Court

Now that winter’s here?

Yes it is a little chilly¹,

But you’ll like it, never fear.

I’d like to see that little path,

The one you sketched², you know,

After last night’s storm it surely

Must be rimmed³ around with snow.

The grey grouse⁴ slept I’m certain

Beneath the patches white,

The hills protrude⁵ a dazzling crest⁶

Into the dawn’s cold light.

If attempts were made to climb

Up to its softened⁷ blue,

Every time we stepped up one

We’d slip back more than two.

But now, we’ll just go thru this woods

And this deep snow, my dear,

Will make a worth while picture

For it’s beautiful this year.

Let us plow⁸ thru this deep snow drift

To that small half frozen stream,{69}

We’ll see nicer ferns I’ll wager⁹

Than a summer’s ever seen.

Ferns in winter? yes there’s plenty.

Will you only just look here

How frost fashions from plain water

Things so beautiful and queer.

Wait awhile! here’s beauty,

This stream bank’s frozen dirt

Boasts an edge as sweet and dainty

As a lady’s underskirt.

In summer this is lovely

But old winter has its charms

When these tender little trees stand round

With ice clothes on their arms.

It’s very quiet, but lonely never,

You can push these twigs¹⁰ apart

And in the softened stillness

Almost feel and hear God’s heart.

And one may feel this darkness

Like soft velvet¹¹ one unrolls,

Its very quiet is soothing¹²,

To a city weary soul.

See these bushes! all the edges

Have a perfect picot hem¹³,

Like women’s restless fingers

Had picked up now and then.{70}

We must find the pathway back

When the sun comes stealing thru,

Like old magic, all these wonders

Will be dripping from our view.

I prefer to keep this picture

Just as we have seen it here,

This lovely morning, to my fancy

Is too beautiful, I fear.

1 chilly   

adj.凉快的，寒冷的

参考例句：

• I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
• I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

2 sketched   

v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The historical article sketched the major events of the decade. 这篇有关历史的文章概述了这十年中的重大事件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He sketched the situation in a few vivid words. 他用几句生动的语言简述了局势。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 rimmed   

adj.有边缘的，有框的v.沿…边缘滚动；给…镶边

参考例句：

• Gold rimmed spectacles bit deep into the bridge of his nose. 金边眼镜深深嵌入他的鼻梁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Trees rimmed the pool. 水池的四周树木环绕。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 grouse   

n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦

参考例句：

• They're shooting grouse up on the moors.他们在荒野射猎松鸡。
• If you don't agree with me,please forget my grouse.如果你的看法不同，请不必介意我的牢骚之言。

5 protrude   

v.使突出，伸出，突出

参考例句：

• The tip of her tongue was protruding slightly.她的舌尖微微伸出。
• A huge round mass of smooth rock protruding from the water.一块光滑的巨型圆石露出水面。

6 crest   

n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖

参考例句：

• The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
• He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。

7 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

8 plow   

n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough

参考例句：

• At this time of the year farmers plow their fields.每年这个时候农民们都在耕地。
• We will plow the field soon after the last frost.最后一场霜过后，我们将马上耕田。

9 wager   

n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌

参考例句：

• They laid a wager on the result of the race.他们以竞赛的结果打赌。
• I made a wager that our team would win.我打赌我们的队会赢。

10 twigs   

细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
• Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。

11 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

12 soothing   

adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的

参考例句：

• Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
• His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。

13 hem   

n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制

参考例句：

• The hem on her skirt needs sewing.她裙子上的褶边需要缝一缝。
• The hem of your dress needs to be let down an inch.你衣服的折边有必要放长1英寸。