Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DID YOU EVER HEAR AN ENGLISH SPARROW SING?, by BERTHA JOHNSTON First Line: What? An english sparrow sing? Last Line: I'm sure I'll hear that english sparrow sing. Subject(s): Sparrows | ||||||||
WHAT? an English sparrow sing? Insignificant brown thing, So common and so bold, 'twould surely bring Tears of laughter to the eyes Of the superficial wise To suggest that that small immigrant could sing. 'Twas the bleakest wintry day, Earth, sky, water, all were gray, Of the universe old Boreas seemed king, As he swept across the lake, But his empire was at stake, When that little English sparrow dared to sing. Not a friend on earth had I, No horizon to my sky, No faith that there could be another spring. Cold the world as that gray wall Of the Auditorium tall Where I heard that little English sparrow sing. On the shelving of one stone He was cuddling all alone; Oh, the little feet knew bravely how to cling! As from out the tuneful throat Came the sweetest, springlike note, And I truly heard an English sparrow sing. You may talk for all your days In the thrush and bluebirds' praise And all your other harbingers of spring, But I've never heard a song Whose echoes I'd prolong Like that I heard that English sparrow sing. Oh, my heart's a phonograph That will register each laugh And all happy sounds that from the joy-bells ring, So if cloudy days should come, In my hours of darkest gloom I'm sure I'll hear that English sparrow sing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOUSE SPARROWS by ANTHONY HECHT FIFTH GROUP OF VERSE: 9. DAVID by CHARLES REZNIKOFF SPARROWS AMONG DRY LEAVES by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THE SPARROW by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS |
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