Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO A BUTTERFLY (2), by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO A BUTTERFLY (2), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Stay near me -- do not take thy flight
Last Line: The dust from off its wings.
Variant Title(s): To A Butterfly


STAY near me -- do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My father's family!
Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time, when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline and I
Together chased the butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey: -- with leaps and springs
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she, God love her, feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.






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