Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FAUN'S CALL IN THE WOODS, by MARGARET SACKVILLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FAUN'S CALL IN THE WOODS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Early in spring, / when the woods shine
Last Line: As it must one day.
Subject(s): Birds; Spring


EARLY in Spring,
When the woods shine,
And everything
Is washed and fine:
When all about
The dark wood-ways
Young leaves burst out
In a green haze:
Where though the fern
Still curls asleep,
Bright glow-worms burn
And rabbits leap,
And bluebells gather
Fragile and strong,
And each bird feather
Shakes with song;
There did I hear
A note which ran
Clearer than ever
Note of man—
Clear as April,
Shining as May—
A gleam—a shiver—
It passed away.

A call it was,
Whose notes were made
Of leaf and grass
And sun and shade:
Of light rain dripping
On warm moss,
Which sunbeams tripping
Tip-toe across;
Of Summer noon
Which burns so bright
She lends the moon
Her fire at night;
Of hot pine-needles
Under the pine
And prickly pine cones
Red like wine,
Cones and needles
Scorching the feet
When the all the forest's
Ablaze with heat;
Of dappled light
Unsteadily glancing,
Where, out of sight,
The wind comes dancing:
All this I heard
In one low call:
Tree, beast, and bird—
It held them all!

If I should hear
That call again,
Soft, clean, and clear
And sharp like rain—
Alive or dead,
Asleep, awake,
In church, in bed,
Away I'll break.—
I'll leave my book
When that call comes,
The maid, the cook,
The household sums:
Wine in the cellar,
Fire in the grate,
Bread on the table,
Meat on the plate,
Bills to pay,
Letters to write,
The drive to-day,
The dance to-night.
I'll hurl aside
Ink, paper, pen,
And snap my fingers
In the face of men;—
Like thistle-down,
Careless and gay,
When that call comes
I'll float away,
When that call comes—
As it must one day.





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