Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE NORTH, by FANNIE STEARNS DAVIS GIFFORD Poet's Biography First Line: I give three calls to the north Last Line: Come forth! Alternate Author Name(s): Davis, Fannie Stearns Subject(s): North, The | ||||||||
I GIVE three calls to the North. Come forth! Come forth! Come forth! Out of the black fir-forests, where snow Hides in the hollow places; where blow Late spring winds; and the rivers run Ice-green, laughing with late spring sun; Out of the sharp white nights, too still, (Star upon star, as hill upon hill) Oh, like the fierce-foot rivers, set free, Come and awaken and trouble me! (Name that I cannot cry, Face that my dreams deny, Feet that strode swift, -- and yet Should I one hour forget? Shot from your life to mine, Blazing and barbed, the Sign?) I give three calls to the North. Come forth! Come forth! Come forth! Here in my garden green Lilacs whisper and lean. Deep the grass at my door. Shadows and songs fly o'er. Out in the village street Clatter of wheels and feet; Children laughing, the chime From the church-tower telling the time; Hot May-sweetness, and I Weeding my rose-beds, cry Over the bristling hills to the North, Hear me! Come forth! Come forth! Can you not run down a mountain-side Like a rude green river's rock-roughened tide? Fly over forests of black-peaked firs Like an eagle, proudest of voyagers? Sweep like a notable wind to me, Laughing and cold-lipped, to set me free? How can I wait so long? Till the bob-o'-link slackens his song; Till the roses have blossomed and blown, And the little round apples have grown Green on my twisted tree? Can you not set me free Now, while I cry to you? Now, while the sweet nights through I lie in the dark and feel Life like a mad flame reel Over the floors of my heart? Now, while the wild dreams start Clamoring out of the night and noon, Under the clear sun, under the moon, Clamoring, while I go Soberly to and fro? How can I wait? I stand And cry to you. Heart and hand Reaches to you. Give heed! I, in my garden, bleed Small dark blood-drops of need. -- Great bees blunder and croon, -- Church-bell chiming high noon, -- O, like the fierce-foot rivers, set free, Come! and awaken and trouble me! Come! For I need you mortally! I give three calls to the North. Come forth! Come forth! Come forth! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WATER LACE AND WHITE EYES by ELEANOR WILNER THE EMPIRE STATE by LUCY BURGMAN HOME by ROWLAND EYLES EGERTON-WARBURTON NORTH WINDOW by HORTENSE KING FLEXNER THE PALMETTO AND THE PINE by MANLEY H. PIKE NORTH AND SOUTH by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY AFTERNOON by FANNIE STEARNS DAVIS GIFFORD |
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