Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | VI. Animate Nature | | The Owl | | Bryan Waller Procter (Barry Cornwall) (1787–1874) |
| | | 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 e’er 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 |
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| And the owl hath a bride, who is fond and bold, | |
| And loveth the wood’s 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 |
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| 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! | | | | |
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