Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHIMNEY SWALLOW, by BERTYE YOUNG WILLIAMS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHIMNEY SWALLOW, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The chimney throat is old and wide
Last Line: If they could sense how free they are.
Alternate Author Name(s): Williams, B. Y.
Subject(s): Chimney Sweepers And Chimneys


The chimney throat is old and wide;
A questing swallow's downward glide
Precipitates him in my room --
To him strange world with threat of doom.

The frightened swallow with magic wings
Beats futilely the pane and clings
At last, despairing, to the curtain's lace.
And I, the dreaded monster of the place,
Approach with outstretched hand. He quakes;
Whatever prayers a swallow makes
Are timely now. With fast-closed eyes
He waits. Now in my hand he lies,
Inert, defenseless -- nor can guess
That I am sharing his distress.

I hasten to the door and fling
It wide -- the thorny small feet cling
Tight to my finger! Can it be
He scorns the gift of liberty?

One moment till bewildered brain
Discerns that he is free again;
One breathless moment till he flies
Into the glory of the skies!

Souls, too, have wings for flying far
If they could sense how free they are.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net