Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON A REED, by JAMES STEPHENS Poet's Biography First Line: I have a reed of oaten straw Last Line: And throw your wicked halves away! Subject(s): Musical Instruments; Reeds | ||||||||
(1) I have a reed of oaten straw, I play upon it when I may; And the music that I draw Is as happy as the day. It has seven holes, and I Play it high, and play it low; I can make it laugh, or cry, Can make or banish joy or woe. Any song that you can name I will play it on the word; Old or new is all the same, I'm as ready as a bird. (2) But there is a tune, and though I try to play it, day and night, Blowing high, and blowing low, I can never play it right! I know it well, without a flaw, The tune that yet I cannot play On my reed of oaten straw, Though I practice night and day! Penny pipe, be good to me! And play the tune I want to play, Or I will smash you on a tree, And throw your wicked halves away! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A REED by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE REED by HENRY BERNARD CARPENTER NEVER TOO LATE: ISABEL'S SONNET, THAT SHE MADE IN PRISON by ROBERT GREENE ON THE LIGHT REEDS by GEORGE O'NEIL A LESSER ODE by HENRI FRANCOIS JOSEPH DE REGNIER ODELETTE (1) by HENRI FRANCOIS JOSEPH DE REGNIER THE REED-PLAYER by DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT PASTORALE AFTER MENDELSSOHN by THOMAS WALSH |
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