ONCE from the town a starling flew, And on the road there met his view A cuckoo, who to him did say: "What is the news from town to-day?" Said he: "The nightingale's sweet lays Receive from all the greatest praise. The thrush, the blackbird, and the wren, Are slightly mentioned now and then." Then said the cuckoo anxiously: "Pray tell me what they say of me." The starling faltered, then replied, What greatly hurt the cuckoo's pride: "That is a thing I cannot do, Because none ever speak of you." The cuckoo tossing, then, his head, In anger to the starling said: "I'll be revenged, and will from spite Sing of myself from morn till night." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LANDSCAPES (FOR CLEMENT R. WOOD) by LOUIS UNTERMEYER ONE WORD MORE by ROBERT BROWNING THANKSGIVING DAY by LYDIA MARIA CHILD THE CANONIZATION by JOHN DONNE SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: 2. IN CHURCH by THOMAS HARDY THE DEAD HEROES by ISAAC ROSENBERG |