The gray sea and the long black land; and the yellow half-moon large and low; and the startled little waves that leap in fiery ringlets from their sleep, as i gain the cove1 with pushing prow2, and quench its speed i’3 the slushy sand. then a mile of warm sea-scented beach; three fields to cross till a farm appears; a rap at the pane4, the quick sharp scratch and blue spurt of a lighted match, and a voice less loud, thro’5 its joys and fears, than the two hearts beating each to each. —robert browning 1 a cove is a small inlet from the sea. 2 a prow is the front end of a boat. 3 i’ is short for in. 4 pane refers to a windowpane. 5 thro’ is short for through. each stanza in this poem has six lines. which lines rhyme within each stanza? what is the main idea of this poem? in ordinary language, describe the mental pictures you get from the first stanza. in the first stanza, why do you think the poet says that little waves look like “fiery ringlets”? what does the last line of the poem tell you?

In this excerpt from "a modest proposal" by jonathan swift, which important issue does the writer deal with using a satirical tone? some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and i have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. but i am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. and as to the young labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a condition. they cannot get work, and consequently pine away from want of nourishment, to a degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come. a. old, sickly people cannot be hired as laborers because they don't have the physical stamina required for the job. b. old, sickly people and young laborers are useless to the nation because they cannot be productive citizens. c. the economy of the nation is burdened by the poor, the old, and the sickly who survive on charity and handouts. d. the living conditions of the poor and their lack of employment opportunities are serious concerns for the nation. reset next