Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FAITHFUL BIRD, by WILLIAM COWPER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The greenhouse is my summer seat Last Line: To liberty without. Variant Title(s): The Faithful Friend Subject(s): Animals; Birds | ||||||||
THE greenhouse is my summer seat; My shrubs displaced from that retreat Enjoyed the open air; Two goldfinches, whose springtly song Had been their mutual solace long, Lived happy prisoners there. They sang as blithe as finches sing That flutter loose on golden wing, And frolic where they list; Strangers to liberty, 'tis true, But that delight they never knew, And therefore never missed. But nature works in every breast, With force not easily suppressed; And Dick felt some desires, That, after many an effort vain, Instructed him at length to gain A pass between his wires. The open windows seemed to invite The freeman to a farewell flight; But Tom was still confined; And Dick, although his way was clear, Was much too generous and sincere To leave his friend behind. So settling on his cage, by play, And chirp, and kiss, he seemed to say, "You must not live alone;"-- Nor would he quit that chosen stand Till I, with slow and cautious hand, Returned him to his own. O ye, who never taste the joys Of friendship, satisfied with noise, Fandango, ball, and rout! Blush when I tell you how a bird A prison with a friend preferred To liberty without. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GLIMPSES OF THE BIRDS by JOHN HOLLANDER GLIMPSES OF THE BIRDS by JOHN HOLLANDER AUDUBON EXAMINES A BITTERN by ANDREW HUDGINS DISPATCHES FROM DEVEREUX SLOUGH by MARK JARMAN A COUNTRY LIFE by RANDALL JARRELL CANADIAN WARBLER by GALWAY KINNELL YELLOW BIRD by KENNETH SLADE ALLING THE CRIPPLE by KARLE WILSON BAKER A COMPARISON by WILLIAM COWPER |
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