THE bark of a fox rings, sonorous and long: -- Three barks, and then silentness; "wong, wong, wong!" In quality horn-like, yet melancholy, As from teachings of years; for an old one is he. The hand of all men is against him, he knows; and yet, why? @3That@1 he knows not, -- will never know, down to his death-halloo cry. With clap-nets and lanterns off start the bird-baiters. In trim to make raids on the roosts in the copse, Where they beat the boughs artfully, while their awaiters Grow heavy at home over divers warm drops. The poachers, with swingels, and matches of brimstone, outcreep To steal upon pheasants and drowse them a-perch and asleep. Out there, on the verge, where a path wavers through, Dark figures, filed singly, thrid quickly the view, Yet heavily laden: land-carriers are they In the hire of the smugglers from some nearest bay. Each bears his two "tubs," slung across, one in front, one behind, To a further snug hiding, which none but themselves are to find. And then, when the night has turned twelve the air brings From dim distance, a rhythm of voices and strings: 'Tis the quire, just afoot on their long yearly rounds, To rouse by worn carols each house in their bounds; Robert Penny, the Deweys, Mail, Voss, and the rest; till anon Tired and thirsty, but cheerful, they home to their beds in the dawn. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE ARIZONA POEMS: 6. RAIN IN THE DESERT by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER AN APPEAL TO MY COUNTRYWOMEN by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER SONNET: TO FANNY by JOHN KEATS IN THIS AGE OF HARD TRYING, NONCHALANCE IS GOOD AND by MARIANNE MOORE THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON by ALEXANDER POPE |