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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WHISTLE, by ROBERT STORY Poet's Biography First Line: You have heard,' said a youth to his sweetheart, who stood Last Line: "to sit there and whistle for -- what you might take!" Subject(s): Love - Beginnings | |||
"YOU have heard," said a youth to his sweetheart, who stood, While he sat on a corn-sheaf, at daylight's decline, -- "You have heard of the Danish boy's whistle of wood? I wish that that Danish boy's whistle were mine." "And what would you do with it? -- tell me," she said, While an arch smile played over her beautiful face. "I would blow it," he answered: "and then my fair maid. Would fly to my side, and would here take her place." "Is that all you wish it for? That may be yours Without any magic," the fair maiden cried: "A favor so slight one's good nature secures;" And she playfully seated herself by his side. "I would blow it again," said the youth, "and the charm Would work so, that not even Modesty's check Would be able to keep from my neck your fine arm:" She smiled, -- and she laid her fine arm round his neck. "Yet once more would I blow, and the music divine Would bring me the third time an exquisite bliss; You would lay your fair cheek to this brown one of mine, And your lips, stealing past it, would give me a kiss." The maiden laughed out in her innocent glee, -- "What a fool of yourself with your whistle you'd make! For only consider, how silly 't would be To sit there and whistle for -- what you might take!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHY I MIGHT GO TO THE NEXT FOOTBALL GAME by DENIS JOHNSON THE POOL by ALEXANDER ANDERSON COZY APOLOGIA; FOR FRED by RITA DOVE YOU NOW HOLDING THIS BOOK IN HAND by ALICE NOTLEY FALLING IN LOVE IN SPAIN OR MEXICO by RON PADGETT |
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