‘Woodland Rain’ by Bliss Carman

Summary

The website content provides an exploration of Bliss Carman's poem "Woodland Rain," alongside a painting by Susan Alison, discussing Carman's significance as a Canadian poet and the rejuvenating impact of nature-themed poetry on personal creativity.

Abstract

The webpage delves into the poem "Woodland Rain" by Bliss Carman, a celebrated Canadian poet who spent much of his life in the United States. Accompanied by a visual representation in the form of a painting by Susan Alison, the poem is presented as a reflection of nature's beauty and its ability to inspire. The article highlights Carman's prolific career, having authored over fifty books of poetry and his ability to make a living from his writing, which was rare for poets of his time. The author of the webpage expresses a preference for Carman's accessible nature poetry, which resonates with them more than the often inaccessible classic poems. The page also touches on the importance of understanding the use of public domain material in creative works and provides links to additional poems and resources on copyright.

Opinions

The author finds Bliss Carman's nature poetry particularly enjoyable and accessible, in contrast to more classic poems that they consider less approachable.
Reading classic poetry, including Carman's work, is seen as a way to refresh one's own creativity, offering a connection to a different time and mindset.
The author agrees with Carman's sentiment that engaging in tasks that allow for personal expression turns labor into joy and art.
"Sea Fever" by John Masefield and "Autumn Tints" by Mathilde Blind are recommended as favorite classic poems, with the former described as having "salty goodness" and the latter celebrating the colors of autumn.
The author emphasizes the importance of being informed about the use of other people's work to avoid copyright infringement.

‘Woodland Rain’ by Bliss Carman*

Shining, shining children Of the summer rain, Racing down the valley, Sweeping o’er the plain!

Rushing through the forest, Pelting on the leaves, Drenching down the meadow With its standing sheaves;

Robed in royal silver, Girt with jewels gay, With a gust of gladness You pass upon your way.

Fresh, ah, fresh behind you, Sunlit and impearled, As it was in Eden, Lies the lovely world

Bliss Carman was a Canadian poet, although he lived most of his life in the US. He was well-known in the Western world, and well-thought-of, both as a poet and as a person.

Unusually, he made most of his living from his poetry. Sometimes he took on other assignments, as well, as is so often the case with all kinds of artist, but they were always jobs that involved the written word.

He wrote more than fifty books of poetry!

In 1904, Francis Thompson, an English poet, described Bliss Carman as, “a Canadian poet of deserved repute this side of the water, with a lusty and individualized joy in nature.”

It is his poems celebrating nature that I particularly enjoy. Not only that, but I understand them! I find many of the classic poems a little inaccessible. That might make me a bit of a lazy-poetry-reader, but if I have to work too hard to ‘get into’ a poem then I lose the joy in its rhythm and melody.

And I so agree with this quote of his:

“Set me a task in which I can put something of my very self, and it is a task no longer; it is joy; it is art.”

My own creativity is always refreshed by reading the creative works of others — especially some of the classic poems, knowing they were written in a different world at a different time, with a different mindset.

My favourite classic poem:

It’s autumn!

Stuff you need to know about the use of other people’s work:

CREATIVE REFRESHMENT

‘Woodland Rain’ by Bliss Carman

After the storm

‘Woodland Rain’ by Bliss Carman*

‘Sea Fever’ by John Masefield

Classic, salty goodness!

‘Autumn Tints’ by Mathilde Blind

Celebrating the fleeting kaleidoscope of autumn colours

Using Public Domain Material

How to avoid the potholes that lead to inadvertently infringing someone’s rights