Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ALBATROSS, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ALBATROSS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Upon the lone australian shore
Last Line: "to souls in prison, words of life!"
Subject(s): Albatrosses; Birds


UPON the lone Australian shore,
A chance-sent traveller's careless eye,
Saw a white bird swoop down and lie
With wide wings that should soar no more.

A feeble quiver shook the bird,
A film the glazing eye o'erspread;
Once more the pearly plumage stirred,
And then the Albatross was dead.

He spread the giant pinions wide,
When 'neath the snowy down he found
By hands unknown securely bound,
A sea-worn missive safe and sound.

And when the blotted page he read,
This message bore it from the sea --
"Five shipwrecked sailors, mourned as dead,
A thousand miles from land are we;

"Whoe'er thou art whose hand shall take
Our poor winged messenger, we pray
That thou wilt spare him for our sake,
And send him scatheless on his way.

"Hardly we hope our words shall find
Response, save by some blessed chance;
Good friend who readest this be kind,
And speed us to our well-loved France."

The traveller stood and musing read,
Some new-born pity filled his breast,
Seeing that poor envoy lie at rest,
The living speaking thro' the dead.

And soon to save those helpless men,
A stout ship, many a weary mile
Sailed forth, and found their lonely isle,
And sped them to their homes again.

But I, as o'er this tale I stay
My wandering fancy, seem to hear,
A voice which comes my heart to cheer,
A silent voice which seems to say,

"Thus is it with the world around,
For tho' the messenger be gone,
Some winged thought with his being bound,
O'er all the world goes echoing on.

"And though its tones sound faint and weak,
Drowned by the rude world's clamorous strife,
The message of dead lips can speak
To souls in prison, words of life!"





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