Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AT THE COMING OF THE WILD SWANS, by WILLIAM SHARP



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT THE COMING OF THE WILD SWANS, by                     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!





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