Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A STRAY FOWL, by HENRY DAVID THOREAU Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Poor bird! Destined to lead thy life Last Line: As erst by indus' bank and far ganges. Subject(s): Birds; Ganges River, India | ||||||||
Poor bird! destined to lead thy life Far in the adventurous west, And here to be debarred to-night From thy accustomed nest; Must thou fall back upon old instinct now -- Well nigh extinct under man's fickle care? Did heaven bestow its quenchless inner light So long ago, for thy small want to-night? Why stand'st upon thy toes to crow so late? The moon is deaf to thy low feathered fate; Or dost thou think so to possess the night, And people the drear dark with thy brave sprite? And now with anxious eye thou look'st about, While the relentless shade draws on its veil, For some sure shelter from approaching dews, And the insidious steps of nightly foes. I fear imprisonment has dulled thy wit, Or ingrained servitude extinguished it. But no, -- dim memory of the days of yore, By Brahmapootra and the Jumna's shore, Where thy proud race flew swiftly o'er the heath, And sought its food the jungle's shade beneath, Has taught thy wings to seek yon friendly trees, As erst by Indus' bank and far Ganges. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BAYADERE by FRANCIS SALTUS SALTUS A ROMANCE OF THE GANGES by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE GANGES by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON RESTLESS by EDWARD MERRILL ROOT STANDING NEAR THE GHATS ALONG THE GANGES by WILLIAM KISTLER GREAT FRIEND by HENRY DAVID THOREAU INDEPENDENCE by HENRY DAVID THOREAU |
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