March (In the Snowing and the Blowing) Lyrics
Spring knocks softly on the ground and asks the flowers if they are there. They answer that they are nearly ready. When they ask where Winter is, Spring says he is leaving, and the birds will sing soon.
March (In the Snowing and the Blowing)
In the snowing and the blowing,
In the cruel sleet,
Little flowers begin their growing
Far beneath our feet.
Softly taps the Spring, and cheerly, -
"Darlings, are you here?"
Till they answer, "We are nearly,
Nearly ready, dear."
"Where is Winter, with his snowing?
Tell us, Spring," they say.
Then she answers, "He is going,
Going on his way.
Poor old Winter does not love you;
But his time is past;
Soon my birds shall sing above you, -
Set you free at last."
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/march-in-the-snowing-and-the-blowing/
- Type
- Poems for Children
- Written by
- Mary Mapes Dodge
- Tune
- Two voices: Spring tapping and cheerful, the flowers small and eager
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Softly taps the Spring, and cheerly, | Tap the floor or table lightly with two fingers. |
| We are nearly, nearly ready, dear. | Crouch low, then rise slowly with your hands opening like a flower. |
What Does March (In the Snowing and the Blowing) Mean?
The poem is a conversation between Spring and the flowers still hidden underground. In the first verse it is snowing and sleeting, which is cruel sleet, icy rain, yet the little flowers have begun growing far beneath our feet. Many spring flowers, such as crocuses and snowdrops, do start to grow under the soil or snow before winter is over.
Spring is a she who knocks and asks, Darlings, are you here? and the flowers say they are nearly ready. In the second verse they ask where Winter is, and Spring says he is on his way out: his time is past. Cheerly is an old form of cheerfully. The last promise is that her birds will soon sing above them and set you free at last, which is how a seed finally comes up into the light.
History and Origin
The poem is by Mary Mapes Dodge and was printed in her book of verses for children, copyrighted in 1874. Poetry collections list the poem as March by Dodge, for example Discover Poetry.
Learning Activities
- Knock knock spring: one person is Spring and taps; the others are flowers curled up small, who answer 'nearly ready' and slowly stand.
- Under the leaves: on a mild late-winter day, look at the ground in a garden or park for green tips pushing up.
- Grow a bulb: set a hyacinth or paperwhite bulb in a jar of water and watch roots and a shoot appear.
- Two voices: read the lines of Spring in a gentle voice and the flowers' lines in a tiny one.