Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PHOENIX TO MRS. BUTTS, by WILLIAM BLAKE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PHOENIX TO MRS. BUTTS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I saw a bird rise from the east
Last Line: Then it flies on glancing wing
Subject(s): Bible; Mythology; Phoenix (mythical Bird)


I saw a Bird rise from the East
As a Bird rises from its Nest
With sweetest Songs I ever heard
It sang I am Mrs Butts's Bird
And then I saw a Fairy gay
That with this beauteous Bird would play
From a golden cloud she came
She calld the sweet Bird by its name
She call'd it Phoenix! Heavens Dove!
She call'd it all the names of Love
But the Bird flew fast away
Where little Children sport & play
And they strok'd it with their hands
All their cooe's it understands
The Fairy to my bosom flew
Weeping tears of morning dew
I said: Thou foolish whimpring thing
Is not that thy Fairy Ring
Where those Children sport & play
In Fairy fancies light & gay
Seem a Child & be a Child
And the Phoenix is beguild
But if thou seem'st a Fairy thing
Then it flies on glancing Wing





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