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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FIRST SWALLOW, by SARAH JOSEPHA BUELL HALE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Out on the wisdom frozen Last Line: Earth's lowliest lot may bless. Alternate Author Name(s): Hale, Sara; Hale, Sarah Josepha Subject(s): Swallows; Wisdom | |||
OUT on the wisdom frozen By ice-cold doubts and fears! Why should life's path be chosen Through sorrow's vale of tears? A child, how I detested The "ifs" and "buts" to hear, When, with Hope's charm invested, Some promised joy was near: Still in my heart is shining The light divine, which lends Each cloud a silver lining, O'er storms a rainbow bends. Then welcome little swallow, Thou'lt bring the summer fair -- With pleasant thoughts I follow Thy waltzing through the air; What though bright flowers have faded, That once my pathway bless'd, What though green bowers are shaded, Where sunshine used to rest: Yet still my soul rejoices, And every shadow flies, When nature's thousand voices, In summer gladness rise. There's not a plant that springeth, But bears some good to earth -- There's not a life but bringeth Its store of harmless mirth -- The dusty way-side clover Has honey in its cells, The wild bee, humming over, Her tale of pleasure tells; The osiers, o'er the fountain, Keep cool the water's breast, And on the roughest mountain The softest moss is press'd. Thus holy Wisdom teaches The worth of blessings small, That Love pervades, and reaches, And forms the bliss of all; The trusting eye, joy-seeking, Some Eden finds or makes, The glad voice, kindly speaking, Some kindred tone awakes: Nor need we power or splendour, Wide hall or lordly dome; The good, the true, the tender, These form the wealth of home. The pilgrim swallow cometh To her forsaken nest -- So must the heart that roameth Return, to find its rest, Where Love sheds summer's lustre, -- And wheresoe'er 't is found, There sweetest flowers will cluster, And dearest joys abound; Thus Heaven to all doth render The prize of happiness; The good, the true, the tender, Earth's lowliest lot may bless. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOPE IS NOT FOR THE WISE by ROBINSON JEFFERS SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 5 by CONRAD AIKEN SONG: NOW THAT SHE IS HERE; FOR JOE-ANNE by HAYDEN CARRUTH WISE: HAVING THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE AND ADOPT THE BEST by LUCILLE CLIFTON WISDOM COMETH WITH THE YEARS by COUNTEE CULLEN FOR RANDALL JARRELL, 1914-1965 by NORMAN DUBIE THE MORTAL WORDS OF ZWEIK by PHILIP LEVINE MARY'S LAMB by SARAH JOSEPHA BUELL HALE |
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