Question

to march

by emily dickinson

dear march, come in!
how glad i am!
i looked for you before.
put down your hat —
you must have walked —
how out of breath you are!
dear march, how are you?
and the rest?
did you leave nature well?
oh, march, come right upstairs with me,
i have so much to tell!

i got your letter, and the birds;
the maples never knew
that you were coming, — i declare,
how red their faces grew!
but, march, forgive me —
and all those hills
you left for me to hue;
there was no purple suitable,
you took it all with you.

who knocks? that april!
lock the door!
i will not be pursued!
he stayed away a year, to call
when i am occupied.
but trifles look so trivial
as soon as you have come,
that blame is just as dear as praise
and praise as mere as blame.

select the correct answer.

which statement best reflects a theme in the poem?

its important to enjoy moments while they last because time goes quickly.
nature is the only part of life to be truly enjoyed.
nature reflects the change of time.
its important to enjoy the month of march because it goes quickly.

Explanation:

Analyze the poem's personification and narrative

The speaker welcomes "March" as an eagerly awaited guest, showing joy at its arrival ("How glad I am") and regret when it must leave as "April" knocks at the door. The interaction with March represents a fleeting, joyful period of spring that is quickly interrupted by the next season.

Evaluate the thematic options

• Option 1 ("It's important to enjoy moments while they last because time goes quickly") aligns with the speaker's urgent joy in hosting March, only to be suddenly interrupted by April's arrival ("Who knocks? That April! Lock the door!").
• Option 2 is too absolute ("only part of life").
• Option 3 is too literal and passive.
• Option 4 is overly literal, focusing only on the specific calendar month rather than the broader human experience of fleeting joy.

Determine the best thematic statement

The poem uses the transition of seasons to illustrate how quickly joyful moments pass, emphasizing the importance of fully appreciating them while they last.

Answer:

• (A) It's important to enjoy moments while they last because time goes quickly. (Correct answer)
• (B) Nature is the only part of life to be truly enjoyed.
• (C) Nature reflects the change of time.
• (D) It's important to enjoy the month of March because it goes quickly.