An Evergreen topic in British classical literature, children’s poems and everyday speech: patterns of climate in the British isles — страница 4

shining. Flowers are blooming. The sky is blue And rains are few. * * * “Rain, rain go to Spain, Never show your face again” * * * Rain, rain go away, Come again another day, Little Johny wants to play. * * * Rain on the green grass, And rain on the tree, Rain on the house-top, But not on me. * * * The rain is raining all around It falls on field and tree It rains on the umbrellas here And on the ships at sea. * * * When clouds appear Like rocks and towers, The earth’s refreshed By frequent showers. * * * I like the fall, The rain and all. I like the grey September day. I like the rain Against my pane. I like to sit And look at it. I like the fall, The rain and all. * * * The rain is raining all around, It falls on field and tree, It rains on the umbrellas here, And on the

ships at sea. So, descriptions of some seasons and the weather show the beauty of British nature. And it proves that the topic of the weather is the most favourite topic for British authors. The weather in different months and its description in classical literature and children’s poems December, January and February are winter months. In January which is normally the coldest month of the year, temperatures in the west, subject to warm winds blowing in off the Atlantic, are higher than those in the east. Warm coastal waters cause warm nights in south-west England and west Wales. Snow is a rare event in Britain. Most heavy snow comes during winter months with easterly or north-easterly winds. On average, snow falls on 15 days a year in Norfolk, 20 in Yorkshire and 34 in Aberdeen

(Scotland). As a rule snow is considered to be a nuisance: “As I in hoary winter night stood shivering in the snow, surprised was I with sudden heat which made my heart to glow” (Robert Southwell). Compare, however: “When men were all asleep the snow came flying, in large white flakes falling on the city brown, stealthily and perpetually setting and lying, hushing the latest traffic on the drowsy town” (Robert Briges). But British children like playing with snow: It’s snowing, it’s snowing, What a lot of snow! It’s snowing, it’s snowing! Let us play with snow! * * * The snow is falling, The north wind is blowing; The ground is white All day and all night. * * * Come to the garden And play in the snow. Make a white snowman And help him to grow. “What a nice

snowman!” The children will say. “What a fine game For a cold winter day!” * * * It’s snowing, it’s snowing What a lot of snow Let us make some snowballs, We all like to throw. It’s snowing, it’s snowing, Let us sledge and ski! When I’m dashing down the hill Clear the way for me! * * * Down comes the snow on a winter day. I make a snow-man when I go to play. * * * It’s winter, it’s winter, Let us skate and ski! It’s winter, it’s winter, It’s great fun for me! * * * Sing a song of a winter, Be happy and gay, Dance around the snow-man, Come out and play. Spring begins in March but May is one of the driest months, especially in eastern and central England; however, April is drier in parts of the west and north. April and especially May are the favorite in

English poetry: “April, April, laugh thy girlish laughter; then, the moment after weep thy girlish tears!” (William Watson); “O, how this spring of love resembles the uncertain glory of an April day” (William Shakespeare); “And after April, when May follows and the hedge leans to the field and scatters on the clover …” (Robert Browning). And the children’s rhymes say: “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”. * * * March brings breezes, Loud and shrill To stir the dancing daffodil. * * * April brings the primrose sweet, Scatters daisies at our feet. * * * April weather Rain and sunshine both together. * * * May brings flocks of pretty lambs. Skipping by their fleecy dams. * * * Come to the woods on a sunny day, Come to the woods some day in May.

Look at the grass, at the busy bees, Look at the birds in the green, green trees. All people are waiting for summer beginning in June. On average, June is the driest month all over Britain. On average, July is normally the warmest month inland, while on the coast August is equally warm and the sea temperature is at its maximum. In July and August the sea is warm enough for bathing on the south coast. July temperatures fall from south to north and increase from the coast inland. Summer time is a time for play; We are happy all the day. The sun is shining all day long. The trees are full of birds and song. * * * This is the season when nights are short. And children have plenty of fun and sport. Boating and swimming all day long Will make us well and strong. * * * Along the south