EAGLE! this is not thy sphere! Warrior bird! what seek'st thou here? Wherefore by the fountain's brink Doth thy royal pinion sink? Wherefore on the violet's bed Lay'st thou thus thy drooping head? Thou, that hold'st the blast in scorn, Thou, that wear'st the wings of morn? Eagle! wilt thou not arise? Look upon thine own bright skies! Lift thy glance! the fiery sun There his pride of place hath won! And the mountain lark is there, And sweet sound hath filled the air; Hast thou left that realm on high? -- Oh! it can be but to die! Eagle, Eagle! thou hast bowed From thine empire o'er the cloud! Thou, that hadst ethereal birth, Thou hast stooped too near the earth, And the hunter's shaft hath found thee, And the toils of death have bound thee! -- Wherefore didst thou leave thy place, Creature of a kingly race? Wert thou weary of thy throne? Was thy sky's dominion lone? Chill and lone it well might be, Yet that mighty wing was free! Now the chain is o'er it cast, From thy heart the blood flows fast, -- Woe for gifted souls and high! Is not such @3their@1 destiny? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...QUI S'EXCUSE S'ACCUSE by MARIANNE MOORE TO BEACHEY, 1912 by CARL SANDBURG LILAC: FIRST EMOTIONS OF LOVE by ROBERT BURNS WITH FLOWERS by EMILY DICKINSON IN THE OLD THEATRE, FIESOLE by THOMAS HARDY NEURASTENIA by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON THE REASON by LEONARD BACON (1887-1954) |