Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ARK AND THE DOVE, by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Tell me a story- please,' my little girl Last Line: May gently guide it to the ark of peace. Subject(s): Arks; Noah (bible); Peace | ||||||||
"TELL me a story -- please," my little girl Lisped from her cradle. So I bent me down And told her how it rained, and rained, and rained, Till all the flowers were covered, and the trees Hid their tall heads, and where the houses stood, And people dwelt, a fearful deluge rolled; Because the world was wicked, and refused To heed the words of God. But one good man, Who long had warned the wicked to repent Obey and live, taught by the voice of Heaven, Had built an Ark; and thither, with his wife, And children, turned for safety. Two and two, Of beasts and birds, and creeping things he took, With food for all; and when the tempest roared, And the great fountains of the sky poured out A ceaseless flood, till all beside were drowned, They in their quiet vessel dwelt secure. And so the mighty waters bare them up, And o'er the bosom of the deep they sailed For many days. But then a gentle dove 'Scaped from the casement of the ark, and spread Her lonely pinion o'er that boundless wave. All, all was desolation. Chirping nest, Nor face of man, nor living thing she saw, For all the people of the earth were drowned, Because of disobedience. Nought she spied Save wide, dark waters, and a frowning sky, Nor found her weary foot a place of rest. So, with a leaf of olive in her mouth, Sole fruit of her drear voyage, which, perchance Upon some wrecking billow floated by, With drooping wing the peaceful Ark she sought. The righteous man that wandering dove received, And to her mate restored, who, with sad moans, Had wondered at her absence. Then I looked Upon the child, to see if her young thought Wearied with following mine. But her blue eye Was a glad listener, and the eager breath Of pleased attention curled her parted lip And so I told her how the waters dried, And the green branches waved, and the sweet buds Came up in loveliness, and that meek dove Went forth to build her nest, while thousand birds Awoke their songs of praise, and the tired ark Upon the breezy breast of Ararat Reposed, and Noah, with glad spirit, reared An altar to his God. Since, many a time, When to her rest, ere evening's earliest star, That little one is laid, with earnest tone, And pure cheek prest to mine, she fondly asks "The Ark and Dove." Mothers can tell how oft, In the heart's eloquence, the prayer goes up From a sealed lip: and tenderly hath blent With the warm teaching of the sacred tale A voiceless wish, that when that timid soul, New in the rosy mesh of infancy, Fast bound, shall dare the billows of the world. Like that exploring dove, and find no rest, A pierced, a pitying, a redeeming hand May gently guide it to the ark of peace. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOW MANY NIGHTS by GALWAY KINNELL THE MOTTO by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE TRUE BEATITUDE by RUPERT BROOKE MAKING PEACE by DENISE LEVERTOV TWO SONGS OF PEACE: 1 by YEHUDA AMICHAI TWO SONGS OF PEACE: 2 by YEHUDA AMICHAI COLUMBUS [JANUARY, 1487] by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY |
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