Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CATBIRD, by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CATBIRD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A skulker in a thicket, loud and harsh
Last Line: Enthralled, the melody is so divine.
Subject(s): Birds; Catbirds; Life; Singing & Singers; Soul; Songs


A SKULKER in a thicket, loud and harsh
His note, his message so unbeautiful
It does belie his bird shape, cheat the sense.
But hark! All suddenly a wondrous lay
And from the self-same throat. 'Tis now a thrush
Uttering its nunlike spirit on the air;
And now a robin, cheery-sweet and plumed
For morning minstrelsy that wakes the day;
And now a mingled rapture of them both
With Somewhat superadded. A strange bird,
Yet in his fashion not unlike to man,
Who often hides a music-potent soul
Under some uncouth semblance of a song
That strikes the ear but lamely, -- till some stress
Of life, some lyric impulse, bids him break
His custom, and the world is blessedly
Enthralled, the melody is so divine.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net