Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FREE, by ELIZA COOK Poet's Biography First Line: The wild streams leap with headlong sweep Last Line: For I'd leave a throne for the hut of the free. Subject(s): Freedom; Liberty | ||||||||
The wild streams leap with headlong sweep, In their curbless course o'er the mountain steep All fresh and strong they foam along, Waking the rocks with their cataract song. My eye bears a glance like the beam on a lance, While I watch the waters dash and dance; I burn with glee, for I love to see The path of any thing that's free. The skylark springs with dew on his wings, And up in the arch of hearen he sings Trill-la, trill-la -- oh, sweeter far Than the notes that come through a golden bar. The joyous bay of a hound at play, The caw of a rook on its homeward way -- Oh! these shall be the music for me, For I love the voices of the free. The deer starts up with his antlers high, Proudly tossing his head to the sky; The barb runs the plain unbroke by the rein, With streaming nostrils and flying mane; The clouds are stirred by the eaglet bird, As the flap of its swooping pinion is heard. Oh! these shall be the creatures for me, For my soul was formed to love the free. The mariner brave, in his bark on the wave, May laugh at the walls round a kingly slave; And the one whose lot is the desert spot Has no dread of an envious foe in his cot, The thrall and state at the palace gate Are what my spirit has learned to hate; Oh? the hills shall be a home for me, For I'd leave a throne for the hut of the free. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE THE WILD SWAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS AFTER TENNYSON by AMBROSE BIERCE QUARTET IN F MAJOR by WILLIAM MEREDITH CROSS THAT LINE by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE EMANCIPATION by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER |
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