Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CATBIRD, by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON Poet's Biography First Line: A skulker in a thicket, loud and harsh Last Line: Enthralled, the melody is so divine. Subject(s): Birds; Catbirds; Life; Singing & Singers; Soul; Songs | ||||||||
A SKULKER in a thicket, loud and harsh His note, his message so unbeautiful It does belie his bird shape, cheat the sense. But hark! All suddenly a wondrous lay And from the self-same throat. 'Tis now a thrush Uttering its nunlike spirit on the air; And now a robin, cheery-sweet and plumed For morning minstrelsy that wakes the day; And now a mingled rapture of them both With Somewhat superadded. A strange bird, Yet in his fashion not unlike to man, Who often hides a music-potent soul Under some uncouth semblance of a song That strikes the ear but lamely, -- till some stress Of life, some lyric impulse, bids him break His custom, and the world is blessedly Enthralled, the melody is so divine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE APOLLO TRIO by CONRAD AIKEN BAD GIRL SINGING by MARK JARMAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 4 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 5 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 28 by JAMES JOYCE THE SONG OF THE NIGHTINGALE IS LIKE THE SCENT OF SYRINGA by MINA LOY BLACK SHEEP by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |
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