Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT THE COMING OF THE WILD SWANS, by WILLIAM SHARP Poet's Biography First Line: By loch and darkening river Last Line: Honk! Honk! Alternate Author Name(s): Macleod, Fiona Subject(s): Birds; Migration; Swans | ||||||||
By loch and darkening river, Above the salt sea-plains, Across the misty mountains Amid the blinding rains, In fierce or silent weather The wild swans southward fare, The wild swans swing together Through lonely fields of air, Crying Honk, Honk, Honk, Glugulû, ullalû, glugulû, Honk! Honk! The seamew's lonely laughter Flits down the flowing wave, The green scarts follow after The surge where cross-tides rave: The sea-duck's mellow wailing Floats over sheltered places, And southward, southward sailing Go all the feathered races. . . . When the swans cry Honk, Honk, Glugulû, ullalû, glugulû, Honk! Honk! White spirits from the Northland, Grey clan of Storm and Frost, Wind-swooping to the Southland From icy-seas blast-tost. . . . Wild clan of sons and daughters, A welcome, now you are come When all your polar waters Are frozen, white, and dumb! . . . Crying Honk, Honk, Honk, Glugulû, ullalû, glugulû, Honk! Honk! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE THE WILD SWAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS FLIGHT OF SWANS by ROBINSON JEFFERS TO A WILD SWAN by HENRY MEADE BLAND A STRAW SWAN UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE by DENISE LEVERTOV |
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