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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TITMOUSE by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE

Poet Analysis

First Line: IF YOU WOULD HAPPY COMPANY WIN
Last Line: SWEET-FED, WILL FLIT AWAY.
Subject(s): ANIMALS;

If you would happy company win,
Dangle a palm-nut from a tree,
Idly in green to sway and spin,
Its snow-pulped kernel for bait; and see
A nimble titmouse enter in.

Out of earth's vast unknown of air,
Out of all summer, from wave to wave,
He'll perch, and prank his feathers fair,
Jangle a glass-clear wildering stave,
And take his commons there --

This tiny son of life; this spright,
By momentary Human sought,
Plume will his wing in the dappling light,
Clash timbrel shrill and gay --
And into Time's enormous Nought,
Sweet-fed, will flit away.



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