Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BALLAD OF THE THRUSH, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALLAD OF THE THRUSH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Across the noisy street
Last Line: Sing on, sing on, o thrush!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Birds; Thrushes


ACROSS the noisy street
I hear him careless throw
One warning utterance sweet;
Then faint at first, and low,
The full notes closer grow;
Hark! what a torrent gush!
They pour, they overflow --
Sing on, sing on, O Thrush!

What trick, what dream's deceit
Has fooled his fancy so
To scorn of dust and heat?
I, prisoned here below,
Feel the fresh breezes blow;
And see, thro' flag and rush,
Cool water sliding slow --
Sing on, sing on, O Thrush!

Sing on. What though thou beat
On that dull bar, thy foe!
Somewhere the green boughs meet
Beyond the roos a-row;
Somewhere the blue skies show,
Somewhere no black walls crush
Poor hearts with hopeless woe --
Sing on, sing on, O Thrush!

ENVOY.

BIRD, though they come, we know,
The empty cage, the hush;
Still, ere the brief day go,
Sing on, sing on, O Thrush!





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