Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CUCKOO, by KATHARINE TYNAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CUCKOO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: His voice runs before me; I follow, it flies
Last Line: But when he calls cuckoo, the summer is here.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Birds; Cuckoos


HIS voice runs before me; I follow, it flies,
It is now in the meadow, and now 'mid the skies;
So blithesome, so lightsome, now distant, now here,
And when he calls Cuckoo, the summer is near.

He calls back the roses, red roses that went
At the first blast of winter, so sad and forspent,
With the dew in their bosoms, young roses and dear,
And when he calls Cuckoo, the summer is near.

I would twine him a gold cage, but what would he do
For his world of the emerald, his bath in the blue,
And his wee feathered comrades to make him good cheer?
And when he calls Cuckoo, the summer is near.

Now, blackbird, give over your harping of gold!
Brown thrush and green linnet, your music withhold!
The flutes of the forest are silver and clear,
But when he calls Cuckoo, the summer is here.





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