Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CAGED SKYLARK, by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: As a dare-gale skylark scanted in a dull cage Last Line: For a rainbow footing it nor he for his bones risen. Subject(s): Birds; Larks; Skylarks | ||||||||
AS a dare-gale skylark scanted in a dull cage Man's mounting spirit in his bone-house, mean house, dwells -- That bird beyond the remembering his free fells; This in drudgery, day-labouring-out life's age. Though aloft on turf or perch or poor low stage, Both sing sometimes the sweetest, sweetest spells, Yet both droop deadly sometimes in their cells Or wring their barriers in bursts of fear or rage. Not that the sweet-fowl, song-fowl, needs no rest -- Why, hear him, hear him babble and drop down to his nest, But his own nest, wild nest, no prison. Man's spirit will be flesh-bound when found at best, But uncumbered: meadow-down is not distressed For a rainbow footing it nor he for his bones risen. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN GRANTCHESTER MEADOWS; ON HEARING A SKYLARK SING by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE SEA AND THE SKYLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE WOODLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE LARK ASCENDING by GEORGE MEREDITH RETURNING, WE HEAR THE LARKS by ISAAC ROSENBERG AUBADE [OR, A MORNING SONG FOR IMOGEN], FR. CYMBELINE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE VENUS AND ADONIS by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ABYSS by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS |
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