Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FALCON, by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I know a falcon swift and peerless Last Line: And marks them with his vengeful eye. Variant Title(s): The Falconer Subject(s): Falcons | ||||||||
I KNOW a falcon swift and peerless As e'er was cradled in the pine; No bird had ever eye so fearless, Or wing so strong as this of mine. The winds not better love to pilot A cloud with molten gold o'errun, Than him, a little burning islet, A star above the coming sun. For with a lark's heart he doth tower, By a glorious upward instinct drawn; No bee nestles deeper in the flower Than he in the bursting rose of dawn. No harmless dove, no bird that singeth, Shudders to see him overhead; The rush of his fierce swooping bringeth To innocent hearts no thrill of dread. Let fraud and wrong and baseness shiver, For still between them and the sky The falcon Truth hangs poised forever And marks them with his vengeful eye. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WINDHOVER: TO CHRIST OUR LORD by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE LOVER SHOWETH HOW HE IS FORSAKEN by THOMAS WYATT THE FALCON by GRACE UPDEGRAFF BERGEN THE FALCON by DER VON KURENBERG A LADY WITH A FALCON ON HER FIST; TO THE INCOMPARABLE ANNE LOVELACEU by RICHARD LOVELACE THE FALCON by RICHARD LOVELACE SINCE YOU ASK by CARL PHILLIPS THE FALCON by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE AFTER THE BURIAL by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL |
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