Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CARRIER-PIGEON RETURNED, by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Sunset has flung its glory o'er the floods Last Line: The darkness of the grave is now before her. Alternate Author Name(s): L. E. L.; Maclean, Letitia Subject(s): Pigeons | ||||||||
SUNSET has flung its glory o'er the floods, That wind amid Ionia's myrtle woods, -- Sunset that dies a conqueror in his splendour; But the warm crimson ray Has almost sunk away Beneath a purple twilight faint and tender. Soft are the hues around the marble fanes, Whose marble shines amid the wooded plains, -- Fanes where a false but lovely creed was kneeling, A creed that held divine All that was but a sign, The outward to the inward world appealing. Earth was a child, and child-like, in those hours, Full of fresh feelings, and scarce conscious powers, Around its own impatient beauty flinging; These young believings were Types of the true and fair, -- The holy faith that Time was calmly bringing. Still to those woods, with ruins fill'd, belong The ancient immortality of song, -- Names and old words whose music is undying, -- Yet do they haunt the heart With its divinest part, The past that to the present is replying. The purple ocean far beneath her feet, The wild thyme on the fragrant hill her seat, As in the days of old there leans a Maiden, -- Many have watch'd before The breaking waves ashore, -- Faint with uncounted moments sorrow laden. With cold and trembling hand She has undone the band Around the carrier-pigeon just alighted, -- And instant dies away The transitory ray From the dark eye it had one instant lighted. The sickness of a hope too long deferred Sinks on her heart, -- it is no longer stirred By the quick presence of the sweet emotion, -- Sweet even unto pain, With which she sees again Her bird come sweeping o'er the purple ocean. Woe for the watcher, -- still it doth not bring A letter nestled fragrant 'neath its wing; There is no answer to her fond inquiring, -- Again, and yet again, No letter o'er the main Quiets the anxious spirit's fond desiring. Down the ungather'd darkness of her hair Floats, like a pall that covers her despair, -- What woman's care hath she in her adorning? The noontide's sultry hours Have wither'd the white flowers, Binding its dark lengths in the early morning. All day her seat has been beside the shore Watching for him who will return no more; He thinks not of her or her weary weeping. Absence, it is thy lot To be too soon forgot, Or to leave memory but to one sad keeping. Oh, folly of a loving heart that clings With desperate faith, to which each moment brings Quick and faint gleams an instant's thought must smother; And yet finds mocking scope For some unreal hope, Which would appear despair to any other! She knows the hopelessness of what she seeks, And yet, as soon as rosy morning breaks, Doth she unloose her pigeon's silken fetter; But thro' the twilight air No more its pinions bear What once so oft they brought -- the false one's letter. The harvest of the summer-rose is spread, But lip and cheek with her have lost their red; Theirs is the paleness of the soul's consuming -- Fretfully day by day In sorrow worn away; Youth, joy, and bloom have no more sure entombing. It is a common story, which the air Has had around the weary world to bear, That of the trusting spirit's vain accusing; Yet once how firm and fond Seemed the eternal bond That now a few brief parted days are loosing. Close to her heart the weary pigeon lies, Gazing upon her with its earnest eyes, Which seem to ask -- Why are we thus neglected? It is the still despair Of passion forced to bear Its deep and tender offering rejected. Poor girl! her soul is heavy with the past; Around the shades of night are falling fast; Heavier still the shadow passing o'er her. The maiden will no more Watch on the sea-beat shore -- The darkness of the grave is now before her. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TRINITY PLACE by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY STREET SONGS: 1. THE PIGEONS by WALLACE STEVENS PIGEONS IN GEORGE SQUARE by ANNE STEVENSON PERFECT; ON THE WESTERN SEABOARD OF SOUTH UIST by CHRISTOPHER MURRAY GRIEVE THE BELFRY PIGEON by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS CALYPSO WATCHING THE OCEAN by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON |
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