All audio files can be found on our catalog page: https://librivox.org/a-plea-for-our-northern-winters-by-rosanna-eleanor-leprohon/
Each fortnight a poem is chosen to be recorded by as many LibriVox volunteers as possible!Mrs. Leprohon was a Canadian poetess, who also wrote fiction which won her most popular succeses, no less than four of her tales have been translated into French. (Summary by David Lawrence)
This fortnight's poem can be found here.
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LibriVox recording settings: mono (1 channel), 44100 Hz sample rate, 128 kbps constant bit rate MP3. See the Tech Specs
Begin your reading with the abbreviated LibriVox disclaimer:
Leave 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning.
Then read the poem:A Plea For Our Northern Winters by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon, read for librivox.org by [your name].
[Add, if you wish, date, and/or your location.]
At the end of your reading, leave a space and then say:“Oh, Earth, where is the mantle of pleasant emerald dye
That robed thee in sweet summer-time, and gladdened heart and eye,
Adorned with blooming roses, graceful ferns and blossoms sweet,
And bright green moss like velvet that lay soft beneath our feet?”
“What! am I not as lovely in my garb of spotless white?
Was young bride in her beauty ever clothed in robe as bright?
Or, if you seek for tinting warm, at morn and evening hour,
You’ll find me bathed in blushes bright as those of summer flower.”
“But, Earth, I miss the verdure of thy woods and forests old,
The waving of their foliage, casting shadows o’er the wold,
The golden sunbeams peering ’mid the green leaves here and there,
And I sigh to see the branches so cheerless and so bare.”
“But oft they’re clothed in ermine to the sight and touch more fair
Than the costly robing monarchs for regal garments wear,
Whilst at times the glitt’ring branches with jewels are ablaze,
The Frost King’s pearls and diamonds flashing back the light’s clear rays.”
“Well, I grieve to see thy rivers, thy lakes and mountain streams,
That in summer rippled gaily beneath the suns’ glad beams,
As light barks glided swiftly o’er their azure waves at will,
Held now in icy barriers that guard them cold and still.”
“But, see their glassy bosom, what scene could be more bright?
How gaily o’er the surface darts the skater, strong and light;
And happy, cheerful voices ring out from shore to shore,
And forms are clearly mirrored on that dazzling crystal floor.”
“Ah, Earth, I cannot listen to thy soft, persuasive voice,
Though the pleasures thou can’st offer may make other hearts rejoice,
For with love and fond regret I recall each cloudless day,
Spent with friends in sunny rambles—when the whole world seemed at play.”
“Why, the time for pleasant converse is the winter’s stormy night,
Its long and quiet evenings, with fire and tapers bright,
The soothing strains of music, laughter, jest and happy song,—
Yes! the dearest of all pleasures to the winter-time belong.”
“I yield! Oh, Earth, thou hast thy charms, I grant it freely now,
In winter’s sterner hours, as when the spring-buds deck thy brow,
So, a truce to idle grieving o’er summer beauties fled,
Our northern winters we’ll accept with grateful hearts instead.”
Leave 5 seconds of silence at the end.End of poem. This recording is in the public domain.
Filename: winters_leprohon_your initials in lowercase_128kb.mp3
(e.g. winters_leprohon_klh_128kb.mp3)
Upload to the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
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MC to select: aradlaw
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Deadline: Please submit your recording by 0600 GMT Sunday, February 21, 2021 (12:00 AM CST)
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And remember, anyone can suggest a poem or coordinate an upcoming Fortnightly Poetry project! If you'd like to suggest a poem or coordinate a future project, please visit this thread.
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