Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE FLY (1) by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE

Poet Analysis

First Line: HOW LARGE UNTO THE TINY FLY
Last Line: AS LAMBKINS TO A SHEPHERD.

How large unto the tiny fly
Must little things appear! --
A rosebud like a feather bed,
Its prickle like a spear;

A dewdrop like a looking-glass,
A hair like golden wire;
The smallest grain of mustard-seed
As fierce as coals of fire;

A loaf of bread, a lofty hill;
A wasp, a cruel leopard;
And specks of salt as bright to see
As lambkins to a shepherd.



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