Use the poem "Recuerdo" by Edna St. Vincent Millay to complete the activity.

Question

(1) We were very tired, we were very merry—

We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry.

It was bare and bright, and smelled like a stable—

But we looked into a fire, we leaned across a table,

We lay on a hill-top underneath the moon;

And the whistles kept blowing, and the dawn came soon.

(2) We were very tired, we were very merry—

We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry;

And you ate an apple, and I ate a pear,

From a dozen of each we had bought somewhere;

And the sky went wan, and the wind came cold,

And the sun rose dripping, a bucketful of gold.

(3) We were very tired, we were very merry,

We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry.

We hailed, “Good morrow, mother!” to a shawl-covered head,

And bought a morning paper, which neither of us read;

And she wept, “God bless you!” for the apples and pears,

And we gave her all our money but our subway fares.

Check for any grammical errors and any other stuff, do not change into your words please. list all errors please.

In one to two sentences, explain how the repeated lines contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.

The repetition of the lines "We were very tired, we were very merry" contributes to the poem's feeling of happiness and tiredness from the two characters. It helps convey that the two characters in the story are having fun.

Answer 1

Here are the grammatical errors and other observations in the poem "Recuerdo":

1. Line 1: The use of the em dash is grammatically acceptable; however, it might be stylistically more conventional to use a comma.
2. Line 3: "smelled like a stable" - While not an error, the simile compares the smell to a stable, which is rather unconventional for evoking a pleasant memory.
3. Line 5: "we lay on a hill-top" - "hilltop" is commonly written as one word, although "hill-top" is not incorrect in terms of poetry.
4. Line 6: "And the whistles kept blowing, and the dawn came soon." - The phrase "came soon" could be interpreted as slightly awkward or vague, but it is acceptable in the context of poetic license.
5. Line 10: "And she wept, “God bless you!” - The quote should be properly punctuated; it could be "And she wept, “God bless you!” for the apples and pears." with the previous punctuation structured accordingly.

Overall, the poem's structure does not exhibit any major grammatical errors but utilizes unconventional phrasing for poetic effect.

In terms of meaning, the repeated lines "We were very tired, we were very merry" emphasize the contrast between exhaustion and joy, demonstrating how the characters find joy in their shared experiences despite their fatigue. This juxtaposition enhances the nostalgic and celebratory tone of their journey.