Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OAK SAID TO THE EAGLE by KATHARINE TYNAN

THE Oak said to the Eagle:
How old art thou ?
Clouds and the sunlight regal
Are on thy brow. But the Eagle:


Thine age, brother,
Tell it again.
We are old, both one and the other,
Past dreams of men.


And the Oak:
Mine age hath thriven Athousand years,
'Gainst the winds and the rains of heaven,
And lightning's spears.


I have seen men born and buried,
How long, how long ?
The race of the red deer harried,
That was so strong.


But the Eagle laughed out scornful:
Thou dost not know
Thou graybeard, ragged and mournful,
How youth doth go.




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