Question

sea lullaby
elinor wylie
the old moon is tarnished
with smoke of the flood,
the dead leaves are varnished
with color like blood,
a treacherous smiler 5
with teeth white as milk,
a savage beguiler
in sheathings of silk,
the sea creeps to pillage,
she leaps on her prey; 10
a child of the village
was murdered to - day.
she came up to meet him
in a smooth golden cloak,
she choked him and beat him 15
to death, for a joke.
her bright locks were tangled,
she shouted for joy,
with one hand she strangled
a strong little boy. 20
the point of view of the speaker in this poem may best be described as
a meek.
b playful.
c mournful.
d reverent.

Explanation:

The poem describes a tragic event where a child is murdered by the sea. Words like "murdered", "choked", "beat" convey a sense of loss and sorrow. The overall tone is not meek (timid), playful (cheerful), or reverent (respectful in a religious sense). Mournful (feeling or expressing sorrow) fits best as it aligns with the tragic subject matter.

Answer:

C. mournful.