March 2026 Slice of Life, No. 8
While thumbing the pages of an 1920 reader [one that was read by students a hundred years ago], I found a short verse. It spoke to me of spring, its beauty and life, connecting me to past years, to many a springtime with trees blooming and robins singing.
I read it several times and with each reading, I fell more and more in love with its complexity in its simplicity. I fell in love with its imagery. I noticed the poet’s crafting — choice of words, repetition, rhyme scheme, line length, and form. But most of all, I noticed the poet’s use of questions, how the questions made the poem speak to me, how they drew me into its beauty.
And so, today I share this treasure with you, my reader.
Have you walked beneath the blossoms in the spring?
In the spring?
Beneath the apple blossoms in the spring?
When the pink cascades were falling,
And the silver brooklets brawling,
And the cuckoo bird is calling
In the spring!
Author Unknown
UPDATE: March 8, 2026, 7:30 PDT
I was going by the attribution in the 1920’s school reader when I first posted this slice. However, the poet is not unknown, and this is just one stanza of a beautifully crafted poem about apple blossoms. Thanks to QSmith, a slicer at https://mylifeinmedio.wordpress.com/, I’ve learned so much more. See comments below for entire poem and author. Surely there is more poetry by this poet. So, I’m going to search for more.
Update #2:
I found more!! And what a find!! A book of William Wilsey Martin’s poetry, By Solent and Danube: Poems and Ballads, published in 1885. Here’s the LINK. It’s in public domain. I think I’m going to enjoy reading W. Wilsey Martin’s poetry.
The saucer magnolia tree on the corner of our house,
hanging over our driveway,
whose blossoms I walk beneath each spring.
Disclaimer: The poem is about apple trees. For the record, my tree is not an apple tree.
Thank you Two Writing Teachers
for hosting Slice of Life Tuesday Challenge
where Alice Nine teaches language lessons that
Empower Students to Read and Write
LIke/Follow Alice Nine Academy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alice.nine.academy
I’m so glad you visited today,
and I do enjoy hearing from you!
Please share below.
Your comment will appear as soon as Alice Nine reads it.
What a lovely poem! You’ve crafted your own lovely images of spring in your introduction to the verse. I also love the continuity of life–of blooms, of birds singing, of people reading these texts–that your slice conveys.
Thank you. Spring is such a lovely time of the year.
The joy and wonder that poem sparks. No place for gloom under that tree.
It won’t be long and we will be taking a ride through the foothills of Mt Hood to see the blossoms or the orchards there… such beauty!
One thing that sticks with me is your acknowledgement of the people who read this first as a new poem and now you still read it and love it today. Writing – so powerful! And I agree with you that this poem captures so much by using all those poetry moves I will be teaching my students after Spring Break! So much in this slice, today. Thank you!
Be sure to read QSmith’s comment below. This stanza is part of a longer poem. You may want to use the full poem with your students.
It made me think about The cherry blossoms here in DC. I was so intrigued, I had to look it up . It is actually a fairly long poem written by William Wilsey Martin titled “An Apple Orchard in the Spring” .
An Apple Orchard in the Spring
by William Martin
Have you seen an apple orchard in the spring?
In the spring?
An English apple orchard in the spring?
When the spreading trees are hoary
With their wealth of promised glory,
And the mavis sings its story,
In the spring.
Have you plucked the apple blossoms in the spring?
In the spring?
And caught their subtle odours in the spring?
Pink buds pouting at the light,
Crumpled petals baby white
Just to touch them a delight—
In the spring.
Have you walked beneath the blossoms in the spring?
In the spring?
Beneath the apple blossoms in the spring?
When the pink cascades are falling,
And the silver brooklets brawling,
And the cuckoo bird soft calling,
In the spring.
If you have not, then you know not, in the spring,
In the spring,
Half the colour, beauty, wonder of the spring,
No sweet sight can I remember
Half so precious, half so tender,
As the apple blossoms render,
In the spring.
Oh Wow… I never thought to search it because it was published under Anonymous in a 1920 grade school reader. It did seem like it should have more to it. And it was so well written for only being one stanza. Thank you for searching for it and taking time to share it. I will edit a mention of it in my post.
I found William Wisley Martin’s book of poetry, printed in 1885. It’s linked in my “Update.” Again, thank you for sharing!
Lovely poem, lovely tree.
I’ve added new information about the “apple blossom” poem. I think you’d find it interesting.
Oh, that clever anonymous! That is a gem. I love the repetition, and especially the phrase ‘silver brooklets brawling’ which is so original. I love your juxtaposition of questioning poem with answering photo, too!
Fran, I think you would appreciate the “updates” I’ve posted in this slice.