Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BIRD AND THE FOUNTAIN, by CHARLOTTE YOUNG First Line: There was once a little fountain Last Line: And hers enduring light! Subject(s): Birds; Fountains | ||||||||
There was once a little fountain, That flow'd away unseen, In the bosom of a mountain, Where man had never been; Yet on it wander'd brightly, With a pretty bubbling sound, Whilst its waters sprinkled lightly The plants that grew around. But one evening, at the "gloaming," A Swallow, pert and vain, From far distant countries roaming, Came soaring o'er the plain; And staying by the mountain, To rest his weary wing, To that pretty little fountain He thus began to sing: -- "Poor humble thing, and lowly, Confined to one lone spot, Condemn'd to suffer slowly Thy solitary lot! Oh! had you seen the bowers O'er which I've lately flown, How poor you'd think the flowers That blossom here alone! "For there, 'midst scenes of splendour, A fountain's life should run, And all its sweetness render Beneath an Eastern sun; There should your cooling waters, In fragrance and perfume, Descend to bless the daughters Of Oriental bloom." The little fountain listen'd, And, for a moment's space, Perhaps less brightly glisten'd In her lonely hiding-place: Perchance the swallow's measure A passing shadow threw On every simple pleasure Her humble spirit knew. And soon that pretty Fountain, Once happy and content, Perchance had scorn'd the mountain Where all her life was spent, Had not a thirsty flower Just caught her sparkling eye, Who, but for her sweet shower, Must pine away and die. Oh, then she said, "Pert stranger, I do not envy thee, Though o'er those scenes a ranger, Which I may never see; Since in my quiet flowing I've joys to thee unknown, The bliss of bliss bestowing, -- The sweetest ever known!" She said, and soft reclining Within her crystal bed, She kissed that flow'ret pining, And raised its drooping head. The Swallow and his story Were soon forgotten quite, For his was fading glory, And hers enduring light! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FOUNTAIN by DENISE LEVERTOV THE BROKEN FOUNTAIN by AMY LOWELL FOUNTAIN IN AVIGNON by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN by ROBERT DUNCAN THE FOUNTAIN (2) by SARA TEASDALE THE FOUNTAIN (3) by SARA TEASDALE ROMAN FOUNTAIN by LOUISE BOGAN |
|