Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MELMILLO, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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MELMILLO, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Three and thirty birds there stood
Last Line: Danced alone -- lone danced melmillo.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter


Three and thirty birds there stood
In an elder in a wood;
Called Melmillo -- flew off three,
Leaving thirty in the tree;
Called Melmillo -- nine now gone,
And the boughs held twenty-one;
Called Melmillo -- and eighteen
Left but three to nod and preen;
Called Melmillo -- three -- two -- one
Now of birds were feathers none.

Then stole slim Melmillo in
To that wood all dusk and green,
And with lean long palms outspread
Softly a strange dance did tread;
Not a note of music she
Had for echoing company;
All the birds were flown to rest
In the hollow of her breast;
In the wood -- thorn, elder, willow --
Danced alone -- lone danced Melmillo.





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