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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BURNHAM-BEECHES, by HENRY LUTTRELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A bard, dear muse, unapt to sing Last Line: Farewell to burnham beeches. Subject(s): Beech Trees; Trees | |||
A BARD, dear Muse, unapt to sing, Your friendly aid beseeches, Help me to touch the lyric string, In praise of Burnham beeches. What though my tributary lines Be less like Pope's than Creech's, The theme, if not the poet, shines, So bright are Burnham beeches. O'er many a dell and upland walk, Their sylvan beauty reaches, Of Birnam wood let Scotland talk, While we've our Burnham beeches. Oft do I linger, oft return (Say, who my taste impeaches), Where holly, juniper, and fern, Spring up round Burnham beeches. Though deep embowered their shades among, The owl at midnight screeches, Birds of far merrier, sweeter song, Enliven Burnham beeches. If 'sermons be in stones', I'll bet Our vicar when he preaches, He'll find it easier far to get A hint from Burnham beeches. Their glossy rind here winter stains, Here the hot solstice bleaches. Bow, stubborn oaks! bow, graceful plancs! Ye match not Burnham beeches. Gardens may boast a tempting show Of nectarines, grapes, and peaches But daintiest truffles lurk below The boughs of Burnham beeches. Poets and painters, hither hie, Here ample room for each is With pencil and with pen to try His hand at Burnham beeches. When monks, by holy Church well schooled, Were lawyers, statesmen, leeches, Cured souls and bodies, judged or ruled, Then flourished Burnham beeches, Skirting the convent's walls of yore, As yonder ruin teaches. But shaven crown and cowl no more Shall darken Burnham beeches. Here bards have mused, here lovers true Have dealt in softest speeches, While suns declined, and, parting, threw Their gold o'er Burnham beeches. O ne'er may woodman's axe resound Nor tempest, making breaches In the sweet shade that cools the ground Beneath our Burnham beeches. Hold! though I'd fain be jingling on, My power no further reaches-- Again that rhyme! enough--I've done, Farewell to Burnham beeches. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PROBLEM OF DESCRIBING TREES by ROBERT HASS THE GREEN CHRIST by ANDREW HUDGINS MIDNIGHT EDEN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN REFLECTION OF THE WOOD by LEONIE ADAMS THE LIFE OF TREES by DORIANNE LAUX |
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