William Rose Benet: The Falconer of God
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The Falconer of God

1886-1950


I flung my soul to the air like a falcon flying.
I said, "Wait on, wait on, while I ride below!
         I shall start a heron soon
         In the marsh beneath the moon --
A strange white heron rising with silver on its wings,
         Rising and crying
         Wordless, wondrous things;
The secret of the stars, of the world's heart-strings,
         The answer to their woe.
Then stoop thou upon him, and grip and hold him so!"

         My wild soul waited on as falcons hover.
         I beat the reedy fens as I trampled past.
         I heard the mournful loon
         In the marsh beneath the moon.
And then -- with feathery thunder -- the bird of my desire
         Broke from the cover
         Flashing silver fire.
         High up among the stars I saw his pinions spire.
         The pale clouds gazed aghast
As my falcon stoopt upon him, and gript and held him fast.

My soul dropt through the air -- with heavenly plunder? --
Gripping the dazzling bird my dreaming knew?
         Nay! but a piteous freight,
         A dark and heavy weight
Despoiled of silver plumage, its voice forever stilled, --
         All of the wonder
         Gone that ever filled
Its guise with glory. Oh, bird that I have killed,
         How brilliantly you flew
Across my rapturous vision when first I dreamed of you!

         Yet I fling my soul on high with new endeavor,
         And I ride the world below with a joyful mind.
         I shall start a heron soon
         In the marsh beneath the moon --
A wondrous silver heron its inner darkness fledges!

         I beat forever
         The fens and the sedges.
         The pledge is still the same -- for all disastrous pledges,
         All hopes resigned!
My soul still flies above me for the quarry it shall find.


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DayPoems Poem No. 1346



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