Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CAGED ROBIN, by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CAGED ROBIN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: At the pantheon of mexico
Last Line: With the robin on the wall.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dean
Subject(s): Juarez, Benito (1806-1872); Mexico; Robins


AT the Pantheon of Mexico,
Through San Fernando's gate,
In a dim and dusty corridor
I chanced one morn to wait,
When, from the wall above me,
I heard a pleading note
As if a song had turned to sighs
Within a tiny throat,
And lo, a northern robin,
Far from his heritage,
With drooping wings and half-shut eyes
Locked in a narrow cage!

Morelos and Guerrero —
Rare bronze and stone, were there,
And Juarez, mourned of Mexico,
Ah, never rest so fair!
And from the Alameda
Wild music wafted down —
But what cared he for heroes dead,
Or all the Aztec town?
His mate was in the Northland
Where she would build her nest
By the apple blooms of the orchard,
On the bough she loved the best,
And O to be free and flying home
Past mount and wood and bay —
Home to the cool, green orchard,
Beneath the sky of May!
And suddenly he spread his wings
As if to take the air,
But wearily sank back again
To the quiet of despair. ...
Then, from the sombre gateway,
I heard my comrades call,
And gained the street, but my heart was left
With the robin on the wall.





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