William Stanley Beaumont Braithwaite:
(6 december 1878 – 8 juni 1962).
Afro-Amerikaanse schrijver, dichter, literair criticus, bloemlezer en uitgever in de Verenigde Staten.
Zijn werk als criticus en bloemlezer werd alom geprezen en was belangrijk voor de ontwikkeling van Oostkust poëzie in het begin van de 20e eeuw. Hij kreeg de Spingarn Medaille in 1918.
Er klinkt muziek in de weilanden. In de lucht is de herfst hier. De lucht is grijs, maar de harten zijn zacht.
De kalmte van duizend zomers en dromen van ontelbare juni’s keren terug wanneer de wind over het meer door de gouden middagen van augustus ruist.
De brandende zon om uit te rusten. De kalmte van duizend zomers en dromen van ontelbare juni’s keren terug als de meerwind door de gouden middagen van augustus ruist.
Is it an idiom? No — this is ‘not really an idiom’. It is a ‘poetic quotation’ using metaphorical nature imagery.
An idiom usually has a fixed non-literal meaning, like “break the ice.” This passage is more like ‘lyrical description’.
> “The calm of a thousand summers and dreams of countless Junes return when the lake-wind murmurs through golden August noons.”
The lines suggest:
– ‘Peace and stillness’ brought by a summer lake breeze
– ‘Nostalgia’ for past summers and youthful memories
– The feeling that nature can awaken old dreams and emotions
– “The burning sun to rest” means the breeze seems to ‘soften or calm the harsh heat’ of the day
In simpler words:
> ‘A gentle wind from the lake on a warm August afternoon brings back the quiet beauty, memories, and dreams of many summers past.’
✍️ Author:
William Stanley Braithwaite
– Born: 1878
– Died: 1962
– Nationality: American
– Known as: Poet, critic, editor, and anthologist
– He was an important African American literary figure, especially known for editing poetry anthologies in the early 20th century.
📖 Origin:
The lines are usually cited as coming from Braithwaite’s poetry, often associated with his summer/nature verse. They are not of proverbial or folk origin; they belong to the tradition of ‘lyric nature poetry’.
The exact title may appear in quotation collections as an August or summer-themed poem, but the attribution to William Stanley Braithwaite is the standard one.
🌿 Overall sense:
The passage celebrates a ‘golden August afternoon’ where the sound of the lake breeze restores a deep, timeless feeling of summer peace. It is about memory, calm, warmth, and the dreamy beauty of late summer.
