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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ALBATROSS, by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Often, in idle hours, men of the crew Last Line: His giant wings are weights to keep him low. Subject(s): Albatrosses; Birds | |||
Often, in idle hours, men of the crew Capture an albatross, great bird of the sea That follows the vessel gliding through The briny gulfs in indolent company. No sooner are these sky-bound kings Placed on the deck than dumb shame soars; Piteously they droop their great white wings To drag on either side of them like oars. The winged adventurer, how dull and weak! This handsome fellow wears a clownish guise! One takes his stubby pipe to poke its beak, One, limping, mimics how the cripple flies! The poet resembles this prince of the clouds Who soars with the tempest and mocks the bow: Exiled on earth amid roaring crowds His giant wings are weights to keep him low. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GLIMPSES OF THE BIRDS by JOHN HOLLANDER GLIMPSES OF THE BIRDS by JOHN HOLLANDER AUDUBON EXAMINES A BITTERN by ANDREW HUDGINS DISPATCHES FROM DEVEREUX SLOUGH by MARK JARMAN A COUNTRY LIFE by RANDALL JARRELL CANADIAN WARBLER by GALWAY KINNELL |
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