Sir Walter Raleigh to a Caged Linnet

By Eugene Lee Hamilton (1845–1907)

Raleigh was imprisoned in the Tower, July 31, 1603.

THOU tiny solace of these prison days,

Too long already have I kept thee here;

With every week thou hast become more dear—

So dear that I will free thee: fly thy ways.

Man, the alternate slave and tyrant, lays

Too soon on others what he has to bear.

Thy cage is in my cage; but, never fear,

The sun once more shall bathe thee with its rays.

Fly forth, and tell the sunny woods how oft

I think of them, and stretch my limbs in thought

Upon their fragrant mosses green and soft;

And whistle all the whistlings God hath taught

Thy throat, to other songsters high aloft—

Not to a captive who can answer naught.