Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OMEN, by WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK MAGEE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OMEN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: From out its chamber, green and high
Last Line: Of that wild symbol traced in air.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eglinton, John
Subject(s): Omens


From out its chamber, green and high,
A bird leap'd forth at break of day,
And speeding o'er the wood, came nigh
Where two great glittering armies lay.

It swooped aside, and clamour stirred
The pale grey region where it flew;
And wavering down the plain, the bird
Reach'd the calm river-nook it knew.

But neither army paused nor spoke,
And one read foul and one read fair;
And straight the storm of battle broke,
With ruin here and triumph there.

At eve the bird flew back again,
The plain beneath now bare and wide;
Stars throng'd, the skies were fleec'd, in pain
The stricken warrior turn'd and died.

From cape to mountain beacons gleamed,
And cities waked with peal and blare.
Head under wing it slept, nor dream'd
Of that wild symbol traced in air.





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