Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LEDA AND THE LARK, by NATHALIA CRANE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LEDA AND THE LARK, by                    
First Line: By the pagoda and just as the dusk
Last Line: "sometimes I wish 'twas a mythical swan."
Subject(s): Leda; Mythology - Classical


By the pagoda and just as the dusk
Scattered her odors of balsam and musk,

There came a tiger cat stalking a lark
Down in the pastures of Washington Park.

Sunken the head of the pillaging beast,
Staging a foray to flavor a feast.

Trees were a-tremble, the breeze held its breath,
Arcady's acolyte going to death.

Leda was airing a swan just at dark
Down in the pastures of Washington Park.

Shielding her cygnet but faint to the nave,
Hailed she a hilltop for power to save.

Lords of Olympus, oh rise ye and gird,
Leda is calling to help a poor bird.

Grave as gorilla from tropical glade,
Vulcan attended to rally the maid.

Knowing that simple things always prevail
Dropped he his sledge on that tiger cat's tail.

Off to a cavern in Masterpiece Row
Galloped a spasm hallooing with woe,

Arcady's acolyte took to the trees,
Leda sank down on her beautiful knees.

Vulcan, unsandaled, was toeing the sods,
Dreaming a paragraph primped for the gods.

Yet to make certain he dangled a word:
"Maiden, why grieve over one silly bird?"

Leda responded though white to the ear:
"Skylarks and linnets are not worth a tear.

"Fright o'er my peerless pet -- that made me wan;
"Sometimes I wish 'twas a mythical swan."





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