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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DANCING BEAR, by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: Far over elf-land poets stretch their sway
Last Line: Atlantic welter reached it from his grave.
Subject(s): Animals; Bears
First Line: Far over elf-land poets stretch their sway
Last Line: Atlantic welter reached it from his grave.
Subject(s): Animals; Bears
FAR over Elf-land poets stretch their sway,
And win their dearest crowns beyond the goal
Of their own conscious purpose; they control
With gossamer threads wide-flown our fancy's play,
And so our action. On my walk to-day,
A wallowing bear begged clumsily his toll,
When straight a vision rose of Atta Troll,
And scenes ideal witched mine eyes away.
+"Merci, Mossieu !" the astonished bear-ward cried,
Grateful for thrice his hope to me, the slave
Of partial memory, seeing at his side
A bear immortal. The glad dole I gave
Was none of mine; poor Heine o'er the wide
Atlantic welter reached it from his grave.
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IAMBIC FEET CONSIDERED AS HONORABLE SCARS by WILLIAM MEREDITH
TOM DANCERS GIFT OF A WHITEBARK PINE CONE by MARY OLIVER
THE BEAR AND THE MAN by ROBERT BLY
THE BLACK BEAR by JACK PRELUTSKY
THE POLAR BEAR by JACK PRELUTSKY
BUCOLIC COMEDY: THE BEAR by EDITH SITWELL
FOR A GRIZZLY BEAR SLEEPING by DAVID WAGONER
SEEN FROM THE PORCH, A BEAR BY THE HOUSE by ROBERT WRIGLEY
AFTER THE BURIAL by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL