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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BLACKBIRD, by BASIL MURRAY
First Line: A blackbird sat upon a pinnacle
Last Line: Men will die. They will, they will.'
Subject(s): Blackbirds
First Line: A blackbird sat upon a pinnacle
Last Line: Men will die. They will, they will.'
Subject(s): Blackbirds
ABLACKBIRD sat upon a pinnacle,
His beady yellow eyes
Glinted in the morning sunlight,
Curiously wise.
A new bell rang within the tower for Matins,
And chisels still below
Struck the white stone of the cloister;
Bustled to and fro
The black-gowned craftsmen and the ruffled scholars
Around the gravel walk
Gay and solemn, while the great bell
Broke upon their talk.
A blackbird sang upon a pinnacle
Five hundred years gone by;
Dew-sprayed cloisters sparkled sleeping
Under April sky.
An old bell rang, and all the world to Matins,
Bright shoes, bright waistcoats came,
Chattering till the grey stones beauty,
Centuries the same
Hushed their talk; while still perched high above them,
There sang the blackbird still,
'Sun and shadow, stone and cloister,
Weathered pinnacle,
Linger ever,
Changing never,
Men will die. They will, they will.'
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