Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A CATY-DID, by PHILIP FRENEAU Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In a branch of willow hid Last Line: With your song of caty-did. Subject(s): Katydids | ||||||||
IN a branch of willow hid Sings the evening Caty-did: From the lofty locust bough Feeding on a drop of dew, In her suit of green arrayed Hear her singing in the shade -- Caty-did, Caty-did, Caty-did! While upon a leaf you tread, Or repose your little head On your sheet of shadows laid, All the day you nothing said: Half the night your cheery tongue Revelled out its little song, -- Nothing else but Caty-did. From your lodging on the leaf Did you utter joy or grief? Did you only mean to say, I have had my summer's day, And am passing, soon, away To the grave of Caty-did: Poor, unhappy Caty-did! But you would have uttered more Had you known of nature's power; From the world when you retreat, And a leaf's your winding sheet, Long before your spirit fled, Who can tell but nature said, -- Live again, my Caty-did! Live, and chatter Caty-did. Tell me, what did Caty do? Did she mean to trouble you? Why was Caty not forbid To trouble little Caty-did? Wrong, indeed, at you to fling, Hurting no one while you sing, -- Caty-did! Caty-did! Caty-did! Why continue to complain? Caty tells me she again Will not give you plague or pain; Caty says you may be hid, Caty will not go to bed While you sing us Caty-did, -- Caty-did! Caty-did! Caty-did! But, while singing, you forgot To tell us what did Caty not: Caty did not think of cold, Flocks retiring to the fold, Winter with his wrinkles old; Winter, that yourself foretold When you gave us Caty-did. Stay serenely on your nest; Caty now will do her best, All she can, to make you blest; But you want no human aid, -- Nature, when she formed you, said, "Independent you are made, My dear little Caty-did: Soon yourself must disappear With the verdure of the year," And to go, we know not where, With your song of Caty-did. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SUMMER AFTERNOON by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY OLD GRANNY DUSK by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY SEPTEMBER DARK by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY SUMMER-TIME AND WINTER-TIME by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY THE KATYDIDS by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY AN ANCIENT PROPHECY by PHILIP FRENEAU BARNEY'S INVITATION by PHILIP FRENEAU ON THE DEATH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN by PHILIP FRENEAU ON THE EMIGRATION TO AMERICA AND PEOPLING WESTERN COUNTRY by PHILIP FRENEAU ON THE MEMORABLE VICTORY OF PAUL JONES by PHILIP FRENEAU |
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