Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT THE PAPYRUS CLUB, by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A lovely show for eyes to see Last Line: Are perched amid the sparrows! | ||||||||
A LOVELY show for eyes to see I looked upon this morning, -- A bright-hued, feathered company Of nature's own adorning; But ah! those minstrels would not sing A listening ear while I lent, -- The lark sat still and preened his wing, The nightingale was silent; I longed for what they gave me not -- Their warblings sweet and fluty, But grateful still for all I got I thanked them for their beauty. A fairer vision meets my view Of Claras, Margarets, Marys, In silken robes of varied hue, Like bluebirds and canaries; The roses blush, the jewels gleam, The silks and satins glisten, The black eyes flash, the blue eyes beam, We look -- and then we listen: Behold the flock we cage to-night -- Was ever such a capture? To see them is a pure delight; To hear them -- ah! what rapture! Methinks I hear Delilah's laugh At Samson bound in fetters; "We captured!" shrieks each lovelier half, "Men think themselves our betters! We push the bolt, we turn the key On warriors, poets, sages, Too happy, all of them, to be Locked in our golden cages!" Beware! the boy with bandaged eyes Has flung away his blinder; He's lost his mother -- so he cries -- And here he knows he'll find her: The rogue! 't is but a new device, -- Look out for flying arrows Whene'er the birds of Paradise Are perched amid the sparrows! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SEA DIALOGUE by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES A SUN-DAY HYMN [OR LAMENT] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES AFTER A LECTURE ON KEATS by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES BILL AND JOE by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES BIRTHDAY OF DANIEL WEBSTER by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES BOSTON COMMON: 1630 by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES BOSTON COMMON: 1774 by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES BOSTON COMMON: 1869 by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES BROTHER JONATHAN'S LAMENT FOR SISTER CAROLINE [DECEMBER 2O, 1860] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES CACOETHES SCRIBENDI by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES |
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