Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LONELY BIRD, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: From a ruin thou art singing Last Line: O lonely, lonely bird! Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea Subject(s): Birds | ||||||||
FROM a ruin thou art singing, O lonely, lonely bird! The soft blue air is ringing, By thy summer music stirred. But all is dark and cold beneath, Where harps no more are heard: Whence win'st thou that exulting breath, O lonely, lonely bird? Thy songs flow richly swelling To a triumph of glad sounds, As from its cavern-dwelling A stream in glory bounds! Though the castle-echoes catch no tone Of human step or word, Though the fires be quenched and the feasting done, O lonely, lonely bird! How can that flood of gladness Rush through thy fiery lay, From the haunted place of sadness, From the bosom of decay -- While the dirge-notes in the breeze's moan Through the ivy garlands heard, Come blent with thy rejoicing tone, O lonely, lonely bird? There's many a heart, wild singer! Like thy forsaken tower, Where joy no more may linger, Where Love hath left his bower: And there's many a spirit e'en like thee, To mirth as lightly stirred, Though it soar from ruins in its glee, O lonely, lonely bird! | 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 DIRGE (1) by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS |
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