Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The Worlds Best Poetry. Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | VI. Animate Nature | The Owl | Bryan Waller Procter (Barry Cornwall) (17871874) |
| IN the hollow tree, in the old gray tower, | |
The spectral owl doth dwell; | |
Dull, hated, despised, in the sunshine hour, | |
But at dusk he s abroad and well! | |
Not a bird of the forest eer mates with him; | 5 |
All mock him outright by day; | |
But at night, when the woods grow still and dim, | |
The boldest will shrink away! | |
O, when the night falls, and roosts the fowl, | |
Then, then, is the reign of the hornèd owl! | 10 |
|
And the owl hath a bride, who is fond and bold, | |
And loveth the woods deep gloom; | |
And, with eyes like the shine of the moonstone cold, | |
She awaiteth her ghastly groom; | |
Not a feather she moves, not a carol she sings, | 15 |
As she waits in her tree so still; | |
But when her heart heareth his flapping wings, | |
She hoots out her welcome shrill! | |
O, when the moon shines, and dogs do howl, | |
Then, then, is the joy of the hornèd owl! | 20 |
|
Mourn not for the owl, nor his gloomy plight! | |
The owl hath his share of good: | |
If a prisoner he be in the broad daylight, | |
He is lord in the dark greenwood! | |
Nor lonely the bird, nor his ghastly mate, | 25 |
They are each unto each a pride; | |
Thrice fonder, perhaps, since a strange, dark fate | |
Hath rent them from all beside! | |
So, when the night falls, and dogs do howl, | |
Sing, ho! for the reign of the hornèd owl! | 30 |
We know not alway | |
Who are kings by day, | |
But the king of the night is the bold brown owl! | | | |
|
|