Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ALBATROSS, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907) Poet's Biography First Line: Upon the lone australian shore Last Line: "to souls in prison, words of life!" Subject(s): Albatrosses; Birds | ||||||||
UPON the lone Australian shore, A chance-sent traveller's careless eye, Saw a white bird swoop down and lie With wide wings that should soar no more. A feeble quiver shook the bird, A film the glazing eye o'erspread; Once more the pearly plumage stirred, And then the Albatross was dead. He spread the giant pinions wide, When 'neath the snowy down he found By hands unknown securely bound, A sea-worn missive safe and sound. And when the blotted page he read, This message bore it from the sea -- "Five shipwrecked sailors, mourned as dead, A thousand miles from land are we; "Whoe'er thou art whose hand shall take Our poor winged messenger, we pray That thou wilt spare him for our sake, And send him scatheless on his way. "Hardly we hope our words shall find Response, save by some blessed chance; Good friend who readest this be kind, And speed us to our well-loved France." The traveller stood and musing read, Some new-born pity filled his breast, Seeing that poor envoy lie at rest, The living speaking thro' the dead. And soon to save those helpless men, A stout ship, many a weary mile Sailed forth, and found their lonely isle, And sped them to their homes again. But I, as o'er this tale I stay My wandering fancy, seem to hear, A voice which comes my heart to cheer, A silent voice which seems to say, "Thus is it with the world around, For tho' the messenger be gone, Some winged thought with his being bound, O'er all the world goes echoing on. "And though its tones sound faint and weak, Drowned by the rude world's clamorous strife, The message of dead lips can speak To souls in prison, words of life!" | 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 CAROL by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907) |
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