Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MOCKING-BIRD'S SONG, by JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MOCKING-BIRD'S SONG, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Early on a pleasant day
Last Line: Thus, he dug the soldier's grave, %iser! By thy purpled wave
Alternate Author Name(s): Croaker
Variant Title(s): The Mocking-bir
Subject(s): Nature; Summer


Early on a pleasant day
In the poet's month of May
Field and forest looked so fair,
So refreshing was the air,
That in spite of morning dew,
Forth I walked where tangling grew
Many a thorn and breezy bush;
When the redbreast and the thrush
Gayly raised their early lay,
Thankful for returning day.


Every thicket, bush, and tree
Swelled with grateful harmony;
As it mildly swept along,
Echo seemed to catch the song;
But the plain was wide and clear
Echo never whispered near;
From a neighboring mocking- bird
Came the answering notes I heard.


Soft and low the song began
I scarcely caught it as it ran
Through the melancholy trill
Of the plaintive whip-poor-will;
Through the ring-dove's gentle wail,
Chattering jay and whistling quail,
Sparrow's twitter, catbird's cry,
Redbreast's whistle, robin's sigh;
Blackbird, bluebird, swallow, lark,
Each his native note might mark.


Oft he tried the lesson o'er,
Each time louder than before;
Burst at length the finished song,
Loud and clear it poured along;
All the choir in silence heard,
Hushed before this wondrous bird.
All transported and amazed,
Scarcely breathing, long I gazed.


Now it reached the loudest swell;
Lower, lower, now it fell ,
Lower, lower, lower still,
Scarce it sounded o'er the rill,
Now the warbler ceased to sing;
Then he spread his russet wing,
And I saw him take his flight,
Other regions to delight






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