Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SILKWORM, by VINCENT BOURNE Poet's Biography First Line: The beams of april, ere it goes Last Line: Were useful in their kind as he. Subject(s): Silkworms | ||||||||
THE beams of April, ere it goes, A worm, scarce visible, disclose; All winter long content to dwell The tenant of his native shell. The same prolific season gives The sustenance by which he lives, The mulberry-leaf, a simple store, That serves him--till he needs no more! For, his dimensions once complete, Thenceforth none ever sees him eat; Though, till his growing time be past, Scarce ever is he seen to fast. That hour arrived, his work begins; He spins and weaves, and weaves and spins; Till circle upon circle wound Careless around him and around, Conceals him with a veil, though slight, Impervious to the keenest sight. Thus self-inclosed, as in a cask, At length he finishes his task: And, though a worm when he was lost, Or caterpillar at the most, When next we see him, wings he wears, And in papilio-pomp appears; Becomes oviparous; supplies With future worms and future flies The next ensuing year--and dies! Well were it for the world, if all Who creep about this earthly ball, Though shorter-lived than most he be, Were useful in their kind as he. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HISTORY OF SILK by GARY FINCKE SILKWORM by ANDRE PIEYRE DE MANDIARGUES SPRING SILKWORMS: A SONG by ZHU ZHONGXIAN A MANUAL MORE ANCIENT THAT THE ART OF PRINTING ... by VINCENT BOURNE DENNER'S OLD WOMAN by VINCENT BOURNE FAMILIARITY DANGEROUS by VINCENT BOURNE |
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