LESSON 6
THE SINGING LESSON

Jean Ingelow (b. 1830, d.1897) was born at Boston, Lincolnshire, England. Her fame as a poetess was at once established upon the publication of her “Poems” in 1863; since which time several other volumes have appeared. The most generally admired of her poems are “Songs of Seven” and “The High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire, ” She has also written several successful novels, of which, “Off the Skelligs” is the most popular. “Stories Told to a Child, ” “The Cumberers, ” “Poor Mat, ” “Studies for Stories, ” and “Mopsa, the Fairy” are also well known. Miss Ingelow resided in London, England, and spent much of her time in deeds of charity.

1. A nightingale made a mistake;

She sang a few notes out of tune:

Her heart was ready to break,

And she hid away from the moon.

She wrung her claws, poor thing,

But was far too proud to weep;

She tucked her head under her wing,

And pretended to be asleep.

2. A lark, arm in arm with a thrush,

Came sauntering up to the place;

The nightingale felt herself blush,

Though feathers hid her face;

She knew they had heard her song,

She felt them snicker and sneer;

She thought that life was too long,

And wished she could skip a year.

3. “O nightingale! ” cooed a dove;

“O nightingale! what's the use?

You bird of beauty and love,

Why behave like a goose?

Don't sulk away from our sight,

Like a common, contemptible fowl;

You bird of joy and delight,

Why behave like an owl?

4. “Only think of all you have done;

Only think of all you can do;

A false note is really fun

From such a bird as you!

Lift up your proud little crest,

Open your musical beak;

Other birds have to do their best,

You need only to speak! ”

5. The nightingale shyly took

Her head from under her wing,

And, giving the dove a look,

Straightway began to sing.

There was never a bird could pass;

The night was divinely calm;

And the people stood on the grass

To hear that wonderful psalm.

6. The nightingale did not care,

She only sang to the skies;

Her song ascended there,

And there she fixed her eyes.

The people that stood below

She knew but little about;

And this tale has a moral, I know,

If you'll try and find it out.

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

1.pretended:made believed.

2.sauntering:wandering idly,strolling.

3.snicker:laugh in a half-suppressed way.

4.contemptible:deserving scorn,worthless.

5.crest:tuft of feathers on a bird's head.

6.divinely:in a supreme degree.

7.psalm:sacred song or poem.

8.ascended:moved upward.

B. Study Note

The nightingale is a small bird, about six inches in length, with a coat of dark-brown feathers above and of grayish, white beneath. Its voice is astonishingly strong and sweet, and, when wild, it usually sings throughout the evening and night from April to the middle of summer. The bird is common in Europe, but is not found in America.

C. Comprehension Questions

1. Do you like to sing? Why or why not?

2. Name some common birds of your country.

3. What is the moral of “The Singing Lesson”?

4. Is there something you would like to do but are afraid to try? Do you feel differently after reading this poem?

5. Most people love to hear birds singing but what are some other ways we use birds?

a. food

b. hunting

c. feathers

d. sport

e. all of these

6. Do you think this poem could have been written as a story? Why or why not?

7. Many people observe and study birds in their natural surroundings. Have you done this? If not, is it something you would like to do?

8. In North America, birds are said to symbolize freedom as they can walk, swim and fly. What do birds symbolize in your country?

D. Writing Work

Write an e-mail to a friend about a song you enjoy.