Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SKYLARK, by JAMES HEDDERWICK Poet's Biography First Line: Whither away, proud bird? Is not thy home / on earth's low breast? Last Line: Their author -- thou! Subject(s): Birds; Larks; Skylarks | ||||||||
WHITHER away, proud bird? is not thy home On earth's low breast? And when thou'rt wearied, whither shalt thou come To be at rest? Whither away? the earth with summer bloom Is newly dress'd! From the soft herbage thou has brush'd in showers, The glistening dew, And upwards sprung to meet the blue-eyed hours Seen peeping through! Has earth no spell to bind? have wilding flowers No power to woo? Rapt flutterer! I partake thy high delight -- Thy holy thrill; -- Upward and upward in thy tuneful flight Thou soar'st at will! Perch'd on the highest point of heavenward sight, I see thee still! Oh, marvellous! that thou, a thing so small, The air should'st flood With song so affluent and musical! Most tiny cloud In the blue sky, raining o'er earth's green ball Music aloud! What ear such sweet enchanting melody Could every cloy? The pulsing air high-heav'd with ecstasy, Thy wings up-buoy! Methinks bright morning hath commission'd thee To speak its joy! Night, rich in jewels as an Ethiop queen, On spray and stem -- On every little flower and leaflet green Has left a gem, And gentlest airs tell sweetly they have been A-wooing them! Glad nature seems the freshness to partake Of Eden's birth, And every sound that hails the morning's break Has tones of mirth; Whilst thou, to sing the glorious day awake, Soar'st high o'er earth! God of the morning! with adoring eyes To Thee we bow! Thou mad'st the lark a preacher in the skies, -- I hear it now! The air is fill'd with blended harmonies -- Their author -- Thou! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN GRANTCHESTER MEADOWS; ON HEARING A SKYLARK SING by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE CAGED SKYLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE SEA AND THE SKYLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE WOODLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE LARK ASCENDING by GEORGE MEREDITH RETURNING, WE HEAR THE LARKS by ISAAC ROSENBERG AUBADE [OR, A MORNING SONG FOR IMOGEN], FR. CYMBELINE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE SORROW AND SONG by JAMES HEDDERWICK |
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