Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WOUNDED GULL, by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE Poet's Biography First Line: Along a grim and granite shore Last Line: The courage of the wounded gull. Subject(s): Birds; Gulls; Seagulls | ||||||||
ALONG a grim and granite shore With children and with wife I went, And in our face the stiff breeze bore Salt savours and a samphire scent. So wild the place and desolate, That on a rock before us stood -- All upright, silent and sedate -- Of slate-gray gulls a multitude. The children could not choose but shout To see these lovely birds so near, Whereat they spread their pinions out, Yet rather in surprise than fear. They rose and wheeled around the cape, They shrieked and vanished in a flock -- But lo! one solitary shape Still sentinelled the lonely rock. The children laughed, and called it tame! But ah! one dark and shrivell'd wing Hung by its side; the gull was lame, A suffering and deserted thing. With painful care it downward crept; Its eye was on the rolling sea; Close to our very feet, it stept Upon the wave, and then -- was free. Right out into the east it went, Too proud, we thought, to flap or shriek; Slowly it steered, in wonderment To find its enemies so meek. Calmly it steered, and mortal dread Disturbed nor crest nor glossy plume; It could but die, and being dead, The open sea should be its tomb. We watched it till we saw it float Almost beyond our furthest view; It flickered like a paper boat, Then faded in the dazzling blue. It could but touch an English heart, To find an English bird so brave; Our life-blood glowed to see it start Thus boldly on the leaguered wave; And we shall hold, till life departs, For flagging days when hope grows dull, Fresh as a spring within our hearts, The courage of the wounded gull. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JUST AS MORNING TWILIGHT AND THE GULLS, GLOUCESTER, MAY 1966 by CHARLES OLSON A POEM BY GARNIE BRAXTON by JAMES WRIGHT GULLS by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS A GULL GOES UP by LEONIE ADAMS UNDER THE WHARF by IDA COLE BARTLATT THE SEAGULL by HERBERT BASHFORD FEBRUARY IN ROME by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE |
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