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Twelve poems
Twelve poems

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Twelve poems is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Twelve poems
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.
Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?
From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.
Shyly the first begin And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.
Shyly the first begin But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: But my tryst is with the Spring!”
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Twelve poems

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Twelve poems is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.
Line 2
Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?
/wens kʌm ðeɪ smɔːl ənd braʊn mərˈækjələs ənd freɪl laɪk sprɪŋz ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl ˈpɑːlən bloʊn ɑːn ðə waɪld ˈsʌðərn ɡeɪl/
Line 3
From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward declineThyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemariesThe morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppiesleaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.
Line 4
Shyly the first beginAnd the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.
Line 5
Shyly the first beginBut, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

handmade adjective US /ˈhændˈmeɪd/

made by hand or a hand process

From this reading “¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.”

lees noun US /liːz/

the sediment from fermentation of an alcoholic beverage

From this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

mays noun US /meɪz/

United States baseball player (born in 1931)

From this reading “Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.”

pollen noun US /ˈpɑːlən/

the fine spores that contain male gametes and that are borne by an anther in a flowering plant

From this reading “Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?”

sea's noun US /siːz/

possessive form of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

spring's noun US /sprɪŋz/

possessive form of “spring” — the season of growth

tamarisk noun US /ˈtæmərɪsk/

any shrub or small tree of the genus Tamarix having small scalelike or needle-shaped leaves and feathery racemes of small white or pinkish flowers; of mostly coastal areas with saline soil

From this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

Thyme noun US /θaɪm/

any of various mints of the genus Thymus

From this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

leaping flame noun + noun

In this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

green slopes noun + noun counted as “green slope”

In this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

for sale preposition + noun

available for purchase

In this reading “¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.”

dark woods noun + noun

In this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

all things adjective + noun

In this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

like dew verb + noun

In this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

great rocks adjective + noun counted as “great rock”

In this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

with gold preposition + noun

In this reading “From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.”

All words in this reading · 177

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

100

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

130

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

AfloatadjectiveUS /əˈfloʊt/

aimlessly drifting

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

AlongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

asphodelnoun

any of various chiefly Mediterranean plants of the genera Asphodeline and Asphodelus having linear leaves and racemes of white or pink or yellow flowers

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

banksnounUS /bæŋks/

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

blissnounUS /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

blossomverbUS /ˈblɑːsəm/

produce or yield flowers

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

brownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

buddingnounUS /ˈbʌdɪŋ/

reproduction of some unicellular organisms (such as yeasts) by growth and specialization followed by the separation by constriction of a part of the parent

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/

(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

celandines

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

cleftnounUS /kleft/

a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

copiesnounUS /ˈkɑːpiz/

plural of “copy” — a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

declineverbUS /dɪˈklaɪn/

grow worse

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

delaysnounUS /dɪˈleɪz/

plural of “delay” — time during which some action is awaited

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

depthnounUS /depθ/

the extent downward or backward or inward

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

dewnounUS /duː/

water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

DownadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

dragon-flies

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

dulledadjectiveUS /dʌld/

having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

dunesnounUS /duːnz/

plural of “dune” — a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

earnounUS /iːr/

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

EDITH

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

editionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

elfinadjectiveUS /ˈelfɪn/

suggestive of an elf in strangeness and otherworldliness

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

essaysnounUS /eˈseɪz/

plural of “essay” — an analytic or interpretive literary composition

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

ExhaledverbUS /eksˈheɪld/

past form of “exhale” — expel air

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

FallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

Far-templed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

flamenounUS /fleɪm/

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

foamnounUS /foʊm/

a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

fountnoun

a specific size and style of type within a type family

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/

physically weak

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

fringing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

galenounUS /ɡeɪl/

a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/

plural of “glance” — a quick look

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

handmadeadjectiveUS /ˈhændˈmeɪd/

made by hand or a hand process

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

hedgerownoun

a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

homely-sweet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

honey-bees

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

ilex-bloom

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

interblossomed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

kindledadjectiveUS /ˈkɪndəld/

set afire

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

lavenderadjectiveUS /ˈlævəndər/

of a pale purple color

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/

a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

leesnounUS /liːz/

the sediment from fermentation of an alcoholic beverage

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

LikeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

LootnounUS /luːt/

goods or money obtained illegally

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

maysnounUS /meɪz/

United States baseball player (born in 1931)

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

meadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

MiraculousadjectiveUS /mərˈækjələs/

being or having the character of a miracle

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

moonsnounUS /muːnz/

plural of “moon” — the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

morning-glory

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

mountain-trail

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

MusicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

notenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

numerousadjectiveUS /ˈnuːmərəs/

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

OrconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/

plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

passer-bynoun

a person who passes by casually or by chance

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

pinenounUS /paɪn/

a coniferous tree

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

POEMSnounUS /ˈpoʊəmz/

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

pollennounUS /ˈpɑːlən/

the fine spores that contain male gametes and that are borne by an anther in a flowering plant

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

poppiesnounUS /ˈpɑːpiz/

plural of “poppy” — annual or biennial or perennial herbs having showy flowers

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

printedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

quietnessnounUS /ˈkwaɪətnəs/

the property of making no sound

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/

located far away spatially

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

Riccardi

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

ringèd

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

rocksnounUS /rɑːks/

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

rolledadjectiveUS /roʊld/

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

rosemaries

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/

reflecting optimism

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

salenounUS /seɪl/

a particular instance of selling

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

sandnounUS /sænd/

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

sea'snounUS /siːz/

possessive form of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

SeawardadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwərd/

(of winds) coming from the land

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

sequesteredadjectiveUS /sɪˈkwestərd/

providing privacy or seclusion

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

ShylyadverbUS /ˈʃaɪli/

in a shy or timid or bashful manner

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

slopesnounUS /sloʊps/

plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

southernadjectiveUS /ˈsʌðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

spiltverbUS /spɪlt/

inflected form of “spill” — cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

spring'snounUS /sprɪŋz/

possessive form of “spring” — the season of growth

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

stirverbUS /stɜːr/

move an implement through

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

stonyadjectiveUS /ˈstoʊni/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

StrainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/

an intense or violent exertion

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

swellverbUS /swel/

increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

tamarisknounUS /ˈtæmərɪsk/

any shrub or small tree of the genus Tamarix having small scalelike or needle-shaped leaves and feathery racemes of small white or pinkish flowers; of mostly coastal areas with saline soil

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

tasselledadjective

fringed or adorned with tassels

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

ThinksnounUS /θɪŋks/

plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/

feeling intense pleasurable excitement

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

throatnounUS /θroʊt/

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

throwsnounUS /θroʊz/

plural of “throw” — the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

ThymenounUS /θaɪm/

any of various mints of the genus Thymus

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

trystnounUS /trɪst/

a date; usually with a member of the opposite sex

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

TWELVEnounUS /twelv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

unheedingadjective

marked by or paying little heed or attention

From this reading Shyly the first begin— But, as the numerous rose First to the hedgerow throws A blossom here and there, As if in hope to win The unheeding glances of the passer-by, And, never catching his dulled eye, Thinks: “But my tryst is with the Spring!”

UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

valley-ward

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

veilnounUS /veɪl/

a garment that covers the head and face

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

vetches

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/

plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

wateryadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːtəri/

filled with water

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

WHARTONnounUS /ˈwɔːrtən/

United States novelist (1862-1937)

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

whatsoeveradjectiveUS /ˌwʌtsoʊˈevər/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

WhenceadverbUS /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading ¶ Of this edition of TWELVE POEMS BY EDITH WHARTON 130 copies have been printed in the Riccardi fount on handmade paper of which 100 are for sale.

whirrverb

make a soft swishing sound

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading Whence come they, small and brown, Miraculous and frail, Like spring’s invisible pollen blown On the wild southern gale?

winverbUS /wɪn/

be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious

From this reading Shyly the first begin— And the thrilled ear delays, Through a fresh veil of interblossomed mays Straining to win That soft sequestered note, Where the new throat, In some deep cleft of quietness remote, Its budding bliss essays.

wingnounUS /wɪŋ/

a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

woodsnounUS /wʊdz/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading From whatsoever depth of gold and blue, Far-templed sand and ringèd palms they wing, Falling like dew Upon the land, they bring Music and spring, With all things homely-sweet Exhaled beneath the feet On stony mountain-trail, Or where green slopes, through tamarisk and pine, Seaward decline— Thyme and the lavender, Where honey-bees make stir, And the green dragon-flies with silver whirr Loot the last rosemaries— The morning-glory, rosy as her name, The poppies’ leaping flame Along the kindled vines, Down barren banks the vetches spilt like lees, In watery meadows the great celandines Afloat like elfin moons, In the pale world of dunes A foam of asphodel Upon the sea’s blue swell, And, where the great rocks valley-ward are rolled, The tasselled ilex-bloom fringing dark woods with gold.

Chapter 1 of Twelve poems by Edith Wharton holds 128 sentences, grouped into 26 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Twelve poems contain?

Chapter 1 holds 128 sentences of Twelve poems, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Twelve poems by Edith Wharton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 128 sentences, grouped into 26 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Twelve poems?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Twelve poems

Common questions about reading Twelve poems by Edith Wharton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Twelve poems?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Twelve poems is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Twelve poems take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Twelve poems section by section

How to work through Twelve poems section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Twelve poems to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Twelve poems

Words and structures a reader meets early in Twelve poems, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Twelve poems, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of Twelve poems, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Twelve poems, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.