Question
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
5
10
Mark context clues or indicate
another strategy you used that
helped you determine meaning.
shyly (SHY lee) adv.
MEANING:
loneliness (LOHN lee nihs) n.
MEANING:
POETRY
A Blessing 139
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts
1
of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom
.
1. tufts (tuhfts) n. bunches of soft material, such as grass.
15
20
Mark context clues or indicate
another strategy you used that
helped you determine meaning.
blossom (BLOS uhm) n.
MEANING:
How would you describe the tone of this poem? Identify specific words that help create that tone.
The tone of this poem is
DONT USE CHAT GBT!!!!!!!!
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
5
10
Mark context clues or indicate
another strategy you used that
helped you determine meaning.
shyly (SHY lee) adv.
MEANING:
loneliness (LOHN lee nihs) n.
MEANING:
POETRY
A Blessing 139
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts
1
of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom
.
1. tufts (tuhfts) n. bunches of soft material, such as grass.
15
20
Mark context clues or indicate
another strategy you used that
helped you determine meaning.
blossom (BLOS uhm) n.
MEANING:
How would you describe the tone of this poem? Identify specific words that help create that tone.
The tone of this poem is
DONT USE CHAT GBT!!!!!!!!
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The tone of the poem “A Blessing” by James Wright can be described as tender and reflective, with a sense of connection and warmth towards nature and the horses. Specific words and phrases that help create this tone include:
- “softly” (line 1): This word conveys a gentle and peaceful quality.
- “darken with kindness” (line 3): This phrase expresses a warmth and affection, suggesting a welcoming presence.
- “gladly” (line 5): The use of "gladly" implies joy and eagerness.
- “they ripple tensely” (line 8): This phrase captures a sense of excitement and anticipation, adding to the overall warmth.
- “shyly as wet swans” (line 9): This simile evokes a delicate and innocent imagery, suggesting affection and vulnerability.
- “munching the young tufts” (line 15): This image conveys a peaceful and natural setting, suggesting comfort and satisfaction.
- “nuzzled” (line 17): The word has a soft, affectionate connotation, indicating bonding and intimacy.
- “delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist” (line 20): This comparison highlights tenderness and a gentle quality in the interaction.
These elements together create a feeling of serenity and connection with the natural world, making the tone both nurturing and contemplative.
- “softly” (line 1): This word conveys a gentle and peaceful quality.
- “darken with kindness” (line 3): This phrase expresses a warmth and affection, suggesting a welcoming presence.
- “gladly” (line 5): The use of "gladly" implies joy and eagerness.
- “they ripple tensely” (line 8): This phrase captures a sense of excitement and anticipation, adding to the overall warmth.
- “shyly as wet swans” (line 9): This simile evokes a delicate and innocent imagery, suggesting affection and vulnerability.
- “munching the young tufts” (line 15): This image conveys a peaceful and natural setting, suggesting comfort and satisfaction.
- “nuzzled” (line 17): The word has a soft, affectionate connotation, indicating bonding and intimacy.
- “delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist” (line 20): This comparison highlights tenderness and a gentle quality in the interaction.
These elements together create a feeling of serenity and connection with the natural world, making the tone both nurturing and contemplative.