Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SICK MAN AND THE BIRDS, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SICK MAN AND THE BIRDS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Spring,- art thou come, o spring!
Last Line: And the night answers it.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Birds


AEGROTUS.

SPRING, -- art thou come, O Spring!
I am too sick for words;
How hast thou heart to sing,
O Spring, with all thy birds?

MERULA.

I sing for joy to see again
The merry leaves along the lane,
The little bud grown ripe;
And look, my love upon the bough!
Hark, how she calleth to me now, --
'Pipe! pipe!'

AEGROTUS.

Ah! weary is the sun:
Love is an idle thing;
But, Bird, thou restless one,
What ails thee, wandering?

HIRUNDO.

By shore and sea I come and go
To seek I know not what; and lo!
On no man's eaves I sit,
But voices bid me rise once more,
To flit again by sea and shore, --
Flit! Flit!

AEGROTUS.

This is Earth's bitter cup: --
Only to seek, not know.
But Thou, that strivest up,
Why dost thou carol so?

ALAUDA.

A secret Spirit gifteth me
With song, and wing that lifteth me, --
A Spirit for whose sake,
Striving amain to reach the sky,
Still to the old dark earth I cry, --
'Wake! wake!'

AEGROTUS.

My hope hath lost its wing.
Thou, that to Night dost call,
How hast thou heart to sing
Thy tears made musical?

PHILOMELA.

Alas for me! a dry desire
Is all my song, -- a waste of fire
That will not fade nor fail;
To me, dim shapes of ancient crime
Moan through the windy ways of time,
'Wail! wail!'

AEGROTUS.

This is the sick man's song, --
Mournful, in sooth, and fit;
Unrest that cries 'How long!' --
And the Night answers it.




Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net