DOWNWARD was the wheeling Bear Driven by the Waggoner: Men by powerful sleep opprest, Gave their busie troubles rest: Love, in this still depth of night, Lately at my house did light; Where perceiving all fast lockt, At the door he boldly knockt. 'Who's that,' said I, 'that does keep Such a noise, and breaks my sleep?' 'Ope,' saith Love, 'for pity hear; 'Tis a childe, thou need'st not fear, Wet and weary, from his way Led by this dark night astray.' With compassion this I heard; Light I struck; the door unbarr'd: Where a little Boy appears, Who wings, bow, and quiver bears; Near the fire I made him stand, With my own I chaft his hand; And with kindly busie care Wrung the chill drops from his hair: When well warm'd he was, and dry, 'Now,' saith he, ''tis time to try If my bow no hurt did get, For methinks the string is wet.' With that, drawing it, a dart He let fly that pierc'd my heart: Leaping then, and laughing said, 'Come, my friend, with me be glad; For my Bow thou see'st is sound, Since thy heart hath got a wound.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NOTES FOR THE FIRST LINE OF A SPANISH POEM by JAMES GALVIN THE LIFE SO SHORT by EAMON GRENNAN DESIRE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE BOOK OF STONES AND LILIES by AMY LOWELL WORDS INTO WORDS WON'T GO by CLARENCE MAJOR SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: AMOS SIBLEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE PICTURE (VENUS RECLINING) by EZRA POUND |