Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON A THRUSH SINGING IN AUTUMN, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A THRUSH SINGING IN AUTUMN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sweet singer of the spring, when the new world
Last Line: "tis sweeter to remember than forget."
Subject(s): Birds; Thrushes


SWEET singer of the Spring, when the new world
Was filled with song and bloom, and the fresh year
Tripped, like a lamb playful and void of fear,
Through daisied grass and young leaves scarce unfurled,
Where is thy liquid voice
That all day would rejoice?
Where now thy clear and homely call,
Which from gray dawn to evening's chilling fall
Would echo from thin copse and tasselled brake,
For homely duty tuned and love's dear sake?

The spring-tide passed, high summer soon should come.
The woods grew thick, the meads a deeper hue;
The pipy summer growths swelled, lush and tall;
The keen scythes swept at daybreak through the dew.
Thou didst not heed at all,
Thy prodigal voice grew dumb;
No more with song mightst thou beguile,
She sitting on her speckled eggs the while,
Thy mate's long vigil as the slow days went,
Solacing her with lays of measureless content.

Nay, nay, thy voice was Duty's, nor would dare
Sing were Love fled, though still the world were fair;
The summer waxed and waned, the nights grew cold,
The sheep lay thick within the wattled fold,
The woods began to moan,
Dumb wert thou and alone;
Yet now, when leaves are sere, thy ancient note
Comes low and halting from thy doubtful throat.
Oh, lonely loveless voice, what dost thou here
In the deep silence of the fading year?

Thus do I read the answer of thy song:
"I sang when winds blew chilly all day long;
I sang because hope came and joy was near,
I sang a little while, I made good cheer;
In summer's cloudless day
My music died away;
But now the hope and glory of the year
Are dead and gone, a little while I sing
Songs of regret for days no longer here,
And touched with presage of the far-off Spring."

Is this the meaning of thy note, fair bird?
Or do we read into thy simple brain
Echoes of thoughts which human hearts have stirred,
High-soaring joy and melancholy pain?
Nay, nay, that lingering note
Belated from thy throat --
"Regret," is what it sings, "regret, regret!
The dear days pass, but are not wholly gone.
In praise of those I let my song go on;
'Tis sweeter to remember than forget."





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net