By the pagoda and just as the dusk Scattered her odors of balsam and musk, There came a tiger cat stalking a lark Down in the pastures of Washington Park. Sunken the head of the pillaging beast, Staging a foray to flavor a feast. Trees were a-tremble, the breeze held its breath, Arcady's acolyte going to death. Leda was airing a swan just at dark Down in the pastures of Washington Park. Shielding her cygnet but faint to the nave, Hailed she a hilltop for power to save. Lords of Olympus, oh rise ye and gird, Leda is calling to help a poor bird. Grave as gorilla from tropical glade, Vulcan attended to rally the maid. Knowing that simple things always prevail Dropped he his sledge on that tiger cat's tail. Off to a cavern in Masterpiece Row Galloped a spasm hallooing with woe, Arcady's acolyte took to the trees, Leda sank down on her beautiful knees. Vulcan, unsandaled, was toeing the sods, Dreaming a paragraph primped for the gods. Yet to make certain he dangled a word: "Maiden, why grieve over one silly bird?" Leda responded though white to the ear: "Skylarks and linnets are not worth a tear. "Fright o'er my peerless pet -- that made me wan; "Sometimes I wish 'twas a mythical swan." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPIRIT OF '76 by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS EPITAPH ON THE TOMB OF SIR EDWARD GILES AND HIS WIFE by ROBERT HERRICK WASHINGTON MONUMENT BY NIGHT by CARL SANDBURG THE MAGIC MIRROR by HENRY MILLS ALDEN APPARITIONS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |