Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SKYLARK, by JAMES HEDDERWICK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SKYLARK, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Whither away, proud bird? Is not thy home / on earth's low breast?
Last Line: Their author -- thou!
Subject(s): Birds; Larks; Skylarks


WHITHER away, proud bird? is not thy home
On earth's low breast?
And when thou'rt wearied, whither shalt thou come
To be at rest?
Whither away? the earth with summer bloom
Is newly dress'd!

From the soft herbage thou has brush'd in showers,
The glistening dew,
And upwards sprung to meet the blue-eyed hours
Seen peeping through!
Has earth no spell to bind? have wilding flowers
No power to woo?

Rapt flutterer! I partake thy high delight --
Thy holy thrill; --
Upward and upward in thy tuneful flight
Thou soar'st at will!
Perch'd on the highest point of heavenward sight,
I see thee still!

Oh, marvellous! that thou, a thing so small,
The air should'st flood
With song so affluent and musical!
Most tiny cloud
In the blue sky, raining o'er earth's green ball
Music aloud!

What ear such sweet enchanting melody
Could every cloy?
The pulsing air high-heav'd with ecstasy,
Thy wings up-buoy!
Methinks bright morning hath commission'd thee
To speak its joy!

Night, rich in jewels as an Ethiop queen,
On spray and stem --
On every little flower and leaflet green
Has left a gem,
And gentlest airs tell sweetly they have been
A-wooing them!

Glad nature seems the freshness to partake
Of Eden's birth,
And every sound that hails the morning's break
Has tones of mirth;
Whilst thou, to sing the glorious day awake,
Soar'st high o'er earth!

God of the morning! with adoring eyes
To Thee we bow!
Thou mad'st the lark a preacher in the skies, --
I hear it now!
The air is fill'd with blended harmonies --
Their author -- Thou!





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