Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SEDGE WARBLER, by RALPH HODGSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In early summer moonlight I have strayed Last Line: Till broke the babel of the summer day. Subject(s): Birds | ||||||||
IN EARLY summer moonlight I have strayed Down pass and wildway of the wooded hill With wonder as again the sedge bird made His old, old ballad new beside the mill. And I have stolen closer to the song That, lispèd low, would swell and change to shrill, Thick, chattered cheeps that seemed not to belong Of right to the frail elfin throat that threw Them on the stream, their waker. There among The willows I have watched as over flew A noctule making zig-zag round the lone, Dark elm whose shadow clipt grotesque the new Green lawn below. On softest breezes blown From some far brake, the cruising fern-owl's cry Would stay my steps; a beetle's nearing drone Would steal upon my sense and pass and die. There I have heard in that still, solemn hour The quickened thorn from slaving weeds untie A prisoned leaf or furled bloom, whose dower Of incense yet burned in the warm June night; By darkness cozened from his grot to cower And curve the night long, that shy eremite The lowly, banded eft would seek his prey; A thousand worlds my silent world would light Till broke the babel of the summer day. | 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 |
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