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Home  »  The New Poetry  »  Dark Wings

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917.

Dark Wings

By James Stephens

SING while you may, O bird upon the tree!

Although on high, wide-winged above the day,

Chill evening broadens to immensity,

Sing while you may.

On thee, wide-hovering too, intent to slay,

The hawk’s slant pinion buoys him terribly—

Thus near the end is of thy happy lay.

The day and thou and miserable me

Dark wings shall cover up and hide away

Where no song stirs of bird or memory:

Sing while you may.