Day Break by HW Longfellow


                            

'Daybreak' has been written in 9 rhyming couplets and follows the spirited progression of a gush of wind as it rises out of the sea and crosses onto the land,announcing the arrival of the day. (Adding a little note,due to phenomena of high and low pressure arising from the difference in temperature because of the climate around the sea,winds generally flow from the sea to the land at day and the vice versa happens at night.)
As given in the textbook,Longfellow presents day as a special presence that is hailed and before whom everybody bows.However,it can also be interpreted and personified as a source of joy and freshness that it keeps spreading around itself.
Primarily,the wind rushes out and clears the mist as if almost telling the mist to make room for it.It announces the beginning of a fresh morning giving an indication to the mariners who can now set sail as they would be able to steer their ship through the waters,now that the night is gone.And then it ultimately leaves the sea and makes its way towards the land ending the reign of sleep and announcing the rise of day.


It makes the foliage in the forest move along merrily as if almost telling them to hang their leafy banners out.It awakens the wood-bird (possibly a Wood thrush,owing to the fact hat is found in North America and is reported to have one of the sweetest vocalisations among birds.) and encourages it to sing by touching it's wing.
At daybreak a wind rises from the sea. It receives the message of the morning and starts to blow. It takes up a duty to spread the news. The heavy mists obstruct the wind. But the wind is determined to blow. It is in haste and wants to make all awake. So it requests the mists not to obstruct it. It first sees the ships anchored. But they should be set free from their anchors as the sun rises and darkness is over. The wind reminds the mariners to undertake a new journey. It blows over the distant lands and calls all to arise and awake. It calls the forest to unfold its leaves, twigs and branches fully and freely. It tells the wood birds to get up and start singing. Their song will announce the beginning of the day. It prompts the domestic cocks to herald the day.       
      The light of the sun is the source of life to the plants of the fields. They are looked after and nourished by it. They should be grateful to the sun. So the wind tells them to bow down their heads and express their gratitude. The wind passes through the church tower and results the bell to ring in the pleasant hour. Finally, the wind arrives at the graveyard of the church. It sighs sadly for the dead and softly tells them to sleep on because it is not yet the Judgement Day.



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