Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE EARLY BUTTERFLY, by CHARLOTTE SMITH Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Trusting the first warm day of spring Last Line: "that hush'd in grim repose, expect their evening prey." Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Charlotte Turner Subject(s): Butterflies; Insects; Bugs | ||||||||
Trusting the first warm day of spring, When transient sunshine warms the sky, Light on his yellow spotted wing Comes forth the early butterfly. With wavering flight, he settles now Where pilewort spreads its blossoms fair, Or on the grass where daisies blow, Pausing, he rests his pinions there. But insect! in a luckless hour Thou from thy winter home hast come, For yet is seen no luscious flower With odour rich, and honied bloom. And these that to the early day Yet timidly their bells unfold, Close with the sun's retreating ray, And shut their humid eyes of gold. For night's dark shades then gather round, And night-winds whistle cold and keen, And hoary frost will crisp the ground, And blight the leaves of budding green! And thou, poor fly! so soft and frail, May'st perish ere returning morn, Nor ever, on the summer gale, To taste of summer sweets be borne! Thus unexperienc'd rashness will presume On the fair promise of life's opening day, Nor dreams how soon the adverse storms may come, "That hush'd in grim repose, expect their evening prey." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EXHAUSTED BUG; FOR MY FATHER by ROBERT BLY PLASTIC BEATITUDE by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR BEETLE LIGHT; FOR DANIEL HILLEN by MADELINE DEFREES CLEMATIS MONTANA by MADELINE DEFREES THOMAS MERTON AND THE WINTER MARSH by NORMAN DUBIE ELEGIAC SONNET: 2. WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF SPRING by CHARLOTTE SMITH ELEGIAC SONNET: 4. TO THE MOON by CHARLOTTE SMITH ELEGIAC SONNET: 44. WRITTEN IN THE CHURCH YARD AT MIDDLETON IN SUSSEX by CHARLOTTE SMITH |
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