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THE SICK MAN AND THE BIRDS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Spring,- art thou come, o spring!
Last Line: And the night answers it.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Birds


AEGROTUS.

SPRING, -- art thou come, O Spring!
I am too sick for words;
How hast thou heart to sing,
O Spring, with all thy birds?

MERULA.

I sing for joy to see again
The merry leaves along the lane,
The little bud grown ripe;
And look, my love upon the bough!
Hark, how she calleth to me now, --
'Pipe! pipe!'

AEGROTUS.

Ah! weary is the sun:
Love is an idle thing;
But, Bird, thou restless one,
What ails thee, wandering?

HIRUNDO.

By shore and sea I come and go
To seek I know not what; and lo!
On no man's eaves I sit,
But voices bid me rise once more,
To flit again by sea and shore, --
Flit! Flit!

AEGROTUS.

This is Earth's bitter cup: --
Only to seek, not know.
But Thou, that strivest up,
Why dost thou carol so?

ALAUDA.

A secret Spirit gifteth me
With song, and wing that lifteth me, --
A Spirit for whose sake,
Striving amain to reach the sky,
Still to the old dark earth I cry, --
'Wake! wake!'

AEGROTUS.

My hope hath lost its wing.
Thou, that to Night dost call,
How hast thou heart to sing
Thy tears made musical?

PHILOMELA.

Alas for me! a dry desire
Is all my song, -- a waste of fire
That will not fade nor fail;
To me, dim shapes of ancient crime
Moan through the windy ways of time,
'Wail! wail!'

AEGROTUS.

This is the sick man's song, --
Mournful, in sooth, and fit;
Unrest that cries 'How long!' --
And the Night answers it.




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