Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE DEPARTURE OF THE SWALLOW by WILLIAM HOWITT

First Line: AND IS THE SWALLOW GONE?
Last Line: THAT A VOID IS LEFT BELOW.
Subject(s): BIRDS; SWALLOWS;

AND is the swallow gone?
Who beheld it?
Which way sailed it?
Farewell bade it none?
No mortal saw it go; --
But who doth hear
Its summer cheer
As it flitteth to and fro?
So the freed spirit flies!
From its surrounding clay
It steals away
Like the swallow from the skies.
Whither? wherefore doth it go?
'T is all unknown;
We feel alone
That a void is left below.



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