The Fifteenth of April
To A.L.
By Duncan Campbell Scott
Pallid saffron glows the broken stubble,
Brimmed with silver lie the ruts,
Purple the ploughed hill;
Down a sluice with break and bubble
Hollow falls the rill;
Falls and spreads and searches,
Where, beyond the wood,
Starts a group of silver birches,
Bursting into bud.
Under Venus sings the vesper sparrow,
Down a path of rosy gold
Floats the slender moon;
Ringing from the rounded barrow
Rolls the robin’s tune;
Lighter than the robin; hark!
Quivering silver-strong
From the field a hidden shore-lark
Shakes his sparkling song.
Now the dewy sounds begin to dwindle,
Dimmer grow the burnished rills,
Breezes creep and halt,
Soon the guardian night shall kindle
In the violet vault,
All the twinkling tapers
Touched with steady gold,
Burning through the lawny vapours
Where they float and fold.
Poem Analysis:
Duncan Campbell Scott’s “The Fifteenth of April” is a luminous and delicately crafted nature poem that captures the transition into spring with lyrical beauty and refined observation. Set in the middle of April—a time when winter's grip has just loosened and life begins to reawaken—the poem reflects the subtle transformation of the Canadian landscape, invoking both serenity and wonder. Scott, a Confederation poet known for his rich, formal verse and strong connection to the natural world, uses this short lyric to highlight the quiet miracles of renewal.
Setting and Atmosphere
The poem unfolds in a pastoral setting, with an almost painterly focus on color and movement. The time of day appears to be twilight—that soft, glowing moment when daylight surrenders to the calm of evening. The seasonal moment is precise: mid-spring, a time of budding trees, sparkling water, and birdsong.
April 15 serves as a symbolic date, poised between the harshness of winter and the full bloom of spring. It becomes a moment of anticipation and quiet joy.
“Pallid saffron glows the broken stubble, / Brimmed with silver lie the ruts, / Purple the ploughed hill...”
The opening lines depict the agricultural landscape bathed in the golden light of evening. The “pallid saffron” and “silver” tones create a mood of gentle awakening. There's a mix of the old and the new: “broken stubble” and “ploughed hill” suggest fields transitioning from winter dormancy to spring vitality.
- The rill, a small stream, “bubbles” and flows through the land—symbolizing life and movement.
- The silver birches “bursting into bud” emphasize spring’s promise, with “bud” symbolizing new life.
“Under Venus sings the vesper sparrow, / Down a path of rosy gold / Floats the slender moon...”
In this stanza, Scott shifts focus to sound and the twilight sky. The presence of Venus (the evening star) and the moon introduces a cosmic gentleness, mirrored by the songs of birds.
- The vesper sparrow, robin, and shore-lark become natural choristers, each adding its voice to this transitional time.
- The “shore-lark...shakes his sparkling song” is a standout image, combining visual and auditory brilliance.
- These birds are not just background; they represent spring’s vitality and the joy of renewal.
“Now the dewy sounds begin to dwindle, / Dimmer grow the burnished rills...”
The final stanza marks a soft descent into night. As the sounds and sights begin to fade, a sacred stillness takes over. Scott describes the night sky as a “violet vault” filled with “twinkling tapers”—a poetic image of stars igniting like candles.
- The phrase “guardian night” presents the evening as a protective force, ushering in calm rather than fear.
- “Lawny vapours” and floating mists evoke a world gently veiled in mystery, ending the poem on a note of peaceful introspection.
Themes
- Nature’s Renewal: The budding birches, bubbling streams, and bird songs all point to the theme of seasonal renewal, marking spring as a spiritual rebirth.
- Harmony Between Earth and Sky: There’s a deliberate blending of the earthly (fields, birds, water) with the celestial (Venus, moon, stars), suggesting a cosmic harmony.
- Time and Transition: The poem captures a moment of transition—not only from winter to spring but also from day to night, symbolizing impermanence and continuity.
- Quiet Joy and Wonder: Unlike more dramatic celebrations of nature, Scott’s tone is reverent and meditative, evoking the joy found in subtleties.
Poetic Techniques
- Alliteration: “silver birches / bursting into bud”; “burnished rills / breezes creep”
- Personification: “guardian night shall kindle”; birds “plan” and “shake” songs.
- Symbolism:
- Venus and the moon – love, femininity, renewal.
- Birdsong – life, awakening, expression of joy.
- Stars as tapers – night as sacred space.
“The Fifteenth of April” by Duncan Campbell Scott is a serene meditation on the awakening of the natural world. It offers readers not only a vivid portrait of early spring in Canada but also a spiritual and aesthetic reflection on change, beauty, and continuity. Through careful observation and lyrical precision, Scott transforms a simple date into a celebration of life’s quiet magic, making the ephemeral eternal in verse.