Poem-a-Day - "To Winter" by Claude McKay

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
February 21, 2021 

To Winter


Claude McKay

Stay, season of calm love and soulful snows!
There is a subtle sweetness in the sun,
The ripples on the stream’s breast gaily run,
The wind more boisterously by me blows,
And each succeeding day now longer grows.
The birds a gladder music have begun,
The squirrel, full of mischief and of fun,
From maple’s topmost branch the brown twig throws.
I read these pregnant signs, know what they mean:
I know that thou art making ready to go.
Oh stay! I fled a land where fields are green
Always, and palms wave gently to and fro,
And winds are balmy, blue brooks ever sheen,
To ease my heart of its impassioned woe.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on February 21, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast 

  

“To Winter” appeared in Harlem Shadows (Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1922).

Claude McKay was born in Jamaica on September 15, 1889. He is the author of several books of poetry including Harlem Shadows (Harcourt, Brace, and Company, 1922), Songs of Jamaica (Gardner, 1912), and Constab Ballads (Watts, 1912). McKays viewpoints and poetic achievements helped set the tone for the Harlem Renaissance. He died on May 22, 1948.

Harlem Shadows
(Harcourt, Brace, and Company, 1922)
 



 
“November Cotton Flower” by Jean Toomer
read more
“A Winter Twilight” by Angelina Weld Grimké
read more

Thanks to Rachel Eliza Griffiths, author of Seeing the Body (W. W. Norton, 2020), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Read a Q&A about Griffiths’ curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year
This free, daily series is made possible by our readers. If you’re able, please consider donating to support this work.
Become a monthly sustainer
join
Make a one-time gift
donate
Copyright © 2021 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
The Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane
St #901
New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book


View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Older messages

"Calling Dreams" by Georgia Douglas Johnson

Saturday, February 20, 2021

The right to make my dreams come true, Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day February 20, 2021 Calling Dreams Georgia Douglas Johnson The right to make my dreams come true, I ask, nay, I demand

"At Age 28, Chilean Astronomer Maritza Soto Has Already Discovered Three Planets" by Vincent Toro

Friday, February 19, 2021

Haloed by the glow of the multiverse swirling Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day February 19, 2021 At Age 28, Chilean Astronomer Maritza Soto Has Already Discovered Three Planets Vincent

"How I Pray in the Plague" by Kwame Dawes

Thursday, February 18, 2021

In these silences, the bubbles of hurt are indistinguishable from the terror Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day February 18, 2021 How I Pray in the Plague Kwame Dawes I was rehearsing the

Poems by Poets Laureate Fellows, The Induction of Audre Lorde to the American Poets Corner, and more

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poets.org February 16, 2021 Poems by 2020 Poets Laureate Fellows Read poems by the twenty-three Poets Laureate Fellows who have been leading civic poetry programs in

"'Because we love each other" by Rickey Laurentiis

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

The weather is rude today, too full of good Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day February 16, 2021 Because we love each other Rickey Laurentiis The weather is rude today, too full of good

You Might Also Like

And The #1 Hair Color Trend Of 2025 Will Be...

Monday, December 23, 2024

It's gorgeous. The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 12.22.2024 And The #1 Hair Color Trend Of 2025 Will Be... (Hair) And The #1 Hair Color Trend Of 2025 Will Be... “New Year, New You!” Read More

5 Ways You Can Lose Your Social Security Benefits

Sunday, December 22, 2024

These Apps Can Help You Remotely Access Your Computer. Social security is a big part of most people's retirement plans. But there are ways to lose some—or all—of your benefits, so be careful out

The Weekly Wrap #192

Sunday, December 22, 2024

12.22.2024 ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

New subscriber discount ends tonight!

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Quick reminder and thank you! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Weekend: Fashion-Forward…Puffer Boots? 👀

Sunday, December 22, 2024

— Check out what we Skimm'd for you today December 22, 2024 Subscribe Read in browser Header Image But first: the best sales to shop this week Update location or View forecast EDITOR'S NOTE

Your Week Ahead Reading 12/23 to 12/30 2024

Sunday, December 22, 2024

The energies for the last week of 2024 are interesting, to say the least. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

RI#255 - Visualize your goals/ Privacy respecting tools/ 6 myths about hangovers

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Hello again! My name is Alex and every week I share with you the 5 most useful links for self-improvement and productivity that I have found on the web. ---------------------------------------- Black

Chicken Shed Chronicles.

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Inspiration For You. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

“THE JESUS LOOK” (SHORT STORY)

Sunday, December 22, 2024

One morning at the coffeehouse, a stranger sees something in Jake no one else can. Something holy. Something divine. Something lucrative. By the time Jake realises he's in over his head, it might

"Christmas on the Border, 1929" by Alberto Ríos

Sunday, December 22, 2024

1929, the early days of the Great Depression. The desert air was biting, December 22, 2024 donate Christmas on the Border, 1929 Alberto Ríos Based on local newspaper reports and recollections from the