Pages

Sunday, November 12, 2023

The Song-sparrow in November / Arthur Stringer


The Song-sparrow in November

Alone, forlorn, blown down autummal hills,
Floats sweetly solemn, fond and low,
One mournful-noted song that fills
The twilight, lonely grown with snow.

O shower of sound that more than Music seems,
O song that some vague sadness of farewell
Leaves crowned and warm with tears! — must all our dreams
Of deepest Beauty thus with Sorrow dwell?

~~
Arthur Stringer (1874-1950)
from The Woman in the rain, and other poems, 1907

[Poem is in the public domain in Canada and the United States]

Arthur Stringer biography

Rhododendrites, White-Throated Sparrow in Prospect Part, November 2020.

1 comment:

  1. Cathleen Harvea GuthrieNovember 14, 2023 at 3:07 AM

    I love sparrows and am concerned for them throughout the long cold winter that they endure, often cheerily, surprisingly, inspiring. I appreciate that this poem by Arthur Stringer has a slight varied meter (unless somehow I am wrong; still learning), as having to attend to a strict meter can get in the way of creativity. Poetry benefits from nuance. 💟💟💟💟💟💟

    ReplyDelete