F. I. Tyutchev: «Весенние воды», «Весенняя гроза»
Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev (1803–1873) was born on 23 November 1803 in Oryol province into a noble family. In 1819 he entered Moscow University; after it he became a diplomat and lived abroad for many years. His first collection of poems came out in 1854: in it the poet writes lovingly about nature and shares his thoughts and feelings. In «Весенние воды» snow is still white in the fields, but the waters are already noisy: they are spring’s messengers, crying «Весна идёт!» everywhere, and a cheerful round-dance of May days follows behind. «Весенняя гроза» is about the first thunder of early May: it rumbles playfully, rain hangs like pearls, the sun gilds the threads of rain, and birds and the forest answer the thunder merrily. Here there is personification: «гром … резвяся и играя».
“Be the painter”: say in Russian what picture you would draw for each stanza («Я нарисовал бы белое поле и бегущие ручьи»).