"Loon". ..."goose". ...and "vulture".... Thus, from the kings of water and of air, Men pluck three catchwords for their empty lips. Mock them in turn, wise, dumb triumvirate! You, gander, with stout heart tooled like your wings of steel, What coward knows your soul? "Egyptian vultures, clean as cherubim, All ivory and jet," sons of the burning sun, What creatures call you 'foul'? And you, nature's own child, You most precocious water bird, That shouts exultantly among lone lakes, You, foremost in the madman's alphabet— Laugh in superb contempt at folly's catalogue! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO HIS MISTRESS OBJECTING TO HIM NEITHER TOYING OR TALKING by ROBERT HERRICK THE FISH, THE MAN, AND THE SPIRIT (COMPLETE) by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT MOTHER O' MINE by RUDYARD KIPLING PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 17. THE BESTOWER by EDWIN ARNOLD IN DEFENSE OF YOUTH by ROBBINS WOLCOTT BARSTOW JESUS - THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY by BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX |