Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THREE WHITE BIRDS OF ANGUS, by ELEANOR ROGERS COX


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THREE WHITE BIRDS OF ANGUS, by                    
First Line: Last night when all the stars were still
Last Line: The feet of morn came whisperingly
Subject(s): Birds; Fairies; Elves


LAST night when all the stars were still,
Upon Benn Edar's dew-gray hill
I stood, and watched where far away,
Three sea-birds cleft the moonwhite spray.
Three sea-birds like white flowers tossed
Upon the wind, now seen, now lost.
Now star-bright 'mid the sea's deep black,
Now lost amid the breakers' wrack.
Now nearer, nearer, winging yet,
Their silver course toward me set,
Their silver wings that as they came
Turned all to gold and rose-red flame,
Casting upon the air around
A music of such wondrous sound,
So sweetly strange, as on that shore
Sure mortal never heard before:
For binding each bright neck and wing
A band of silver chimes did swing,
Did swing and sway and round me fold
A tremulous thin veil of gold.
So that, as one enchanted all
I heard upon my spirit fall
A woman's voice, and where had been
The foremost bird, there shone a Queen
Poised half-way 'mid the sky and land,
A snow-white girl on either hand;
And "You, O King, shall come away
From Erin with me on a day,
Shall leave your loves and wars behind,
And ride with me the singing wind!"
She chanted, till along the sea
The feet of Morn came whisperingly





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