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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO AN INTRUSIVE BUTTERFLY, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I watch you through the garden walks Last Line: Should slay ... A future praed! Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin | |||
'Kill not -- for Pity's sake -- and lest ye slay The meanest thing upon its upward way.' -- FIVE RULES OF BUDDHA. I WATCH you through the garden walks, I watch you float between The avenues of dahlia stalks, And flicker on the green; You hover round the garden seat, You mount, you waver. Why, -- Why storm us in our still retreat, O saffron Butterfly! Across the room in loops of flight I watch you wayward go; Dance down a shaft of glancing light, Review my books a-row; Before the bust you flaunt and flit Of 'blind Maeonides' -- Ah, trifler, on his lips there lit Not butterflies, but bees! You pause, you poise, you circle up Among my old Japan; You find a comrade on a cup, A friend upon a fan; You wind anon, a breathing-while, Around AMANDA'S brow; -- Dost dream her then, O Volatile! E'en such an one as thou? Away! Her thoughts are not as thine. A sterner purpose fills Her steadfast soul with deep design Of baby bows and frills; What care hath she for worlds without, What heed for yellow sun, Whose endless hopes revolve about A planet, oetat One! Away! Tempt not the best of wives; Let not thy garish wing Come fluttering our Autumn lives With truant dreams of Spring! Away! Reseek thy 'Flowery Land'; Be Buddha's law obeyed; Lest Betty's undiscerning hand Should slay ... a future PRAED! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A GAGE D'AMOUR by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON ARS VICTRIX (IMITATED FROM THEOPHILE GAUTIER) by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON BEFORE SEDAN by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON DORA VERSUS ROSE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON GROWING GRAY by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW; IN MEMORIAM by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON IN AFTER DAYS; RONDEAU by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE BALLAD OF PROSE AND RHYME by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON WHEN THERE IS PEACE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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