Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THREE SEVERAL BIRDS, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The romancer's a nightingale Last Line: And only dreams for him!) Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Birds; Books; Nightingales; Poetry & Poets; Singing & Singers; Reading | ||||||||
I THE ROMANCER THE Romancer's a nightingale, -- The moon wanes dewy-dim And all the stars grow faint and pale In listening to him. -- To him the plot least plausible Is of the most avail, -- He simply masters it because He takes it by the tale. O he's a nightingale, -- His theme will never fail -- It gains applause of all -- because He takes it by the tale! The Romancer's a nightingale: -- His is the sweetest note -- The sweetest, woe-begonest wail Poured out of mortal throat: So, glad or sad, he ever draws Our best godspeed and hail; He highest lifts his theme -- because He takes it by the tale. O he's a nightingale, -- His theme will never fail -- It gains applause of all -- because He takes it by the tale! II THE POET The bobolink he sings a single song, Right along, -- And the robin sings another, all his own -- One alone; And the whippoorwill, and bluebird, And the cockadoodle-doo-bird; -- But the mocking-bird he sings in every tone Ever known, Or chirrup-note of merriment or moan. So the Poet he's the mocking-bird of men, -- He steals his songs and sings them o'er again; And yet beyond believing They're the sweeter for his thieving. -- So we'll howl for Mister Mocking-bird And have him out again! It's mighty fond we are of bobolinks, And chewinks; And we dote on dinky robins, quite a few -- Yes, we do; And we love the dove, and bluebird, And the cockadoodle-doo-bird, -- But the mocking-bird's the bird for me and you, Through and through, Since he sings as everybody wants him to. Ho! the Poet he's the mocking-bird of men, -- He steals his songs and sings them o'er again; And yet beyond believing They're the sweeter for his thieving. -- So we'll howl for Mister Mocking-bird And have him out again! III BOOKMAN'S CATCH The Bookman he's a humming-bird -- His feasts are honey-fine, -- (With hi! hilloo! And clover-dew And roses lush and rare!) His roses are the phrase and word Of olden tomes divine; (With hi! and ho! And pinks ablow And posies everywhere!) The Bookman he's a humming-bird, -- He steals from song to song -- He scents the ripest-blooming rhyme, And takes his heart along And sacks all sweets of bursting verse And ballads, throng on throng. (With ho! and hey! And brook and brae, And brinks of shade and shine!) A humming-bird the Bookman is -- Though cumbrous, gray and grim, -- (With hi! hilloo! And honey-dew And odors musty-rare!) He bends him o'er that page of his As o'er the rose's rim (With hi! and ho! And pinks aglow And roses everywhere!) Ay, he's the featest humming-bird, -- On airiest of wings He poises pendent o'er the poem That blossoms as it sings -- God friend him as he dips his beak In such delicious things! (With ho! and hey! And world away And only dreams for him!) | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO SONNETS: 1 by DAVID LEHMAN THE ILLUSTRATION?ÇÖA FOOTNOTE by DENISE LEVERTOV FALLING ASLEEP OVER THE AENEID by ROBERT LOWELL POETRY MACHINES by CATE MARVIN LENDING LIBRARY by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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