 | The poetical works of William H. C. Hosmer |  |
287
THE WOOD-DUCK.
“Now stealing through its thickets deep
In which the wood-duck hides.”—
Street.
In which the wood-duck hides.”—
Street.
Far from ocean, ever flecking
His broad, shelly beach with foam,
Near untroubled, inland waters
Finds the wild wood-duck a home.
His broad, shelly beach with foam,
Near untroubled, inland waters
Finds the wild wood-duck a home.
Over seas with gull and petrel
Should he strive the storm to dare
Roaring surf and bursting billow
Landward would the creature scare.
Should he strive the storm to dare
Roaring surf and bursting billow
Landward would the creature scare.
Where the forest veils in shadow
Marshy beds of creeping streams,
Or, on lilied ponds the sunlight
Falls with interrupted beams—
Marshy beds of creeping streams,
Or, on lilied ponds the sunlight
Falls with interrupted beams—
Through tall flag and reeds that tremble
In his wake the creature swims,
Or, above the sluggish current,
Sits on overhanging limbs.
In his wake the creature swims,
Or, above the sluggish current,
Sits on overhanging limbs.
Strolling by the grassy margin,
Oft have I the creature seen—
Colors playing on its plumage
Of the richest gold and green.
Oft have I the creature seen—
Colors playing on its plumage
Of the richest gold and green.
And my gun into the hollow
Of my arm have thrown, and stood
Gazing on the lovely vision
Under cover of the wood.
Of my arm have thrown, and stood
Gazing on the lovely vision
Under cover of the wood.
Bronze and violet reflections
Flashed above its tameless eye,
And the crown it wore was royal
Of the deepest Tyrian dye.
Flashed above its tameless eye,
And the crown it wore was royal
Of the deepest Tyrian dye.
288
When the timid bird espying
With her nimble brood, I think
Of old Tribes that sought yon river
From its sparkling wave to drink;
With her nimble brood, I think
Of old Tribes that sought yon river
From its sparkling wave to drink;
Voices of the past are waking
Echoes in the solemn grove
And again their cabins cluster
On the banks of pond and cove;
Echoes in the solemn grove
And again their cabins cluster
On the banks of pond and cove;
For the wood-duck furnished feathers
When a forest-king was crowned,
And another race were rulers
Of the pleasant scene around;
When a forest-king was crowned,
And another race were rulers
Of the pleasant scene around;
And a gorgeous skin, with cunning,
From the head and neck was peeled
That adorned the Pipe of Council,
And its cany stem concealed:
From the head and neck was peeled
That adorned the Pipe of Council,
And its cany stem concealed:
From his crest and glittering pinions
For the maid of doe-like glance
Furnished plumes that, 'mid her tresses,
Fluttered in the festal dance.
For the maid of doe-like glance
Furnished plumes that, 'mid her tresses,
Fluttered in the festal dance.
In the hollow trunks of ruin
Builds the summer-duck a nest,
Though a favorite of nature
In her brightest colors drest;
Builds the summer-duck a nest,
Though a favorite of nature
In her brightest colors drest;
And not strange to me it seemeth
That a bird so richly clad
Should delight in breeding places
That awake reflection sad:
That a bird so richly clad
Should delight in breeding places
That awake reflection sad:
For a lasting law the sunlight
Unto darkness hath allied,
And Decay is ever claiming
Beauty as his chosen bride.
Unto darkness hath allied,
And Decay is ever claiming
Beauty as his chosen bride.
| The poetical works of William H. C. Hosmer | |