Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MOTHER BIRD, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MOTHER BIRD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Through the green twilight of a hedge
Last Line: Patient upon her lonely nest.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): Animals


Through the green twilight of a hedge
I peered, with cheek on the cool leaves pressed,
And spied a bird upon a nest:
Two eyes she had beseeching me
Meekly and brave, and her brown breast
Throbb'd hot and quick above her heart;
And then she opened her dagger bill, --
'Twas not the chirp that sparrows pipe
At early day; 'twas not the trill,
That falters through the quiet even;
But one sharp solitary note,
One desperate fierce and vivid cry
Of valiant tears, and hopeless joy,
One passionate note of victory.
Off, like a fool afraid, I sneaked,
Smiling the smile the fool smiles best,
At the mother bird in the secret hedge
Patient upon her lonely nest.





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