| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 280. The Loon |
| | | By Alfred Billings Street |
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| TAMELESS in his stately pride, along the lake of islands, | |
| Tireless speeds the lonely loon upon his diving track;— | |
| Emerald and gold emblazon, satin-like, his shoulder, | |
| Ebony and pearl inlay, mosaic-like, his back. | |
| Sailing, thus sailing, thus sails the brindled loon, | 5 |
| When the wave rolls black with storm, of sleeps in summer noon. | |
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| Sailing through the islands, oft he lifts his loud bravura;— | |
| Clarion-clear it rings, and round ethereal trumpets swell;— | |
| Upward looks the feeding deer, he sees the aiming hunter, | |
| Up and then away, the loon has warned his comrade well. | 10 |
| Sailing, thus sailing, thus sails the brindled loon, | |
| Pealing on the solitude his sounding bugle-tune. | |
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| Sacred is the loon with eye of wild and flashing crimson; | |
| Eye that saw the Spirit Hah-wen-ne-yo through the air | |
| Falling, faint a star—a shaft of light—a shape of splendor,— | 15 |
| Falling on the deep that closed that shining shape to bear. | |
| Sailing, thus sailing, thus sailed the brindled loon, | |
| With the grand shape falling all a-glitter from the moon. | |
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| Long before the eagle furls his pinion on the pine-top, | |
| Long before the blue-bird gleams in sapphire through the glen, | 20 |
| Long before the lily blots the shoal with golden apples, | |
| Leaves the loon his southern sun to sail the lake again. | |
| Sailing, then sailing, then sails the brindled loon, | |
| Leading with his shouting call the Spring’s awakening croon. | |
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| Long after bitter chills have pierced the windy water, | 25 |
| Long after Autumn dies all dolphin-like away; | |
| Long after coat of russet dons the deer for winter, | |
| Plies the solitary loon his cold and curdled bay. | |
| Sailing, there sailing, there sails the brindled loon, | |
| Till in chains no more to him the lake yields watery boon. | 30 |
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