Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ARCHER, by CRAWFORD WILLIAMS



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ARCHER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I saw the bowman bend his straining arc
Last Line: Sings its short song. . . . How little space is spanned!
Subject(s): Arrows


I saw the bowman bend his straining arc,
Place on the string a shaft of varied hue,
And call an urchin playing in the park
To try, to please him, if his aim be true.
The child, exerting all his puny strength,
Laughing, drew the "pretty" to his cheek,
Released the twanging string; then ran to seek
The arrow where it fell -- at no great length.

Life is a bended bow, -- our soul the shaft,
Well-notched, set to the string with master craft,
And placed a moment in our infant hand:
Simply, delighted with the gaudy lure,
We draw; the arrow, wavering, weak, unsure,
Sings its short song. . . . How little space is spanned!





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