Ablackbirdinawickercage，Thathungandswung’midfruitsandflowers，Hadlearntthesong-charm，toassuageThedrearnessofitswinglesshours。
Andeverwhenthesongwasheard，FromtreesthatshadethegrassyplotWarbledanotherglossybird，Whosematenotlongagowasshot。
Strangeanguishinthatcreature’sbreast，Unweptlikehumangrief，unsaid，HasquickenedinitslonelynestAlingimpulsefromthedead。
Nottoconsoleitsownwildsmart，-
Butwithakindlinginstinctstrong，ThenovelfeelingofitsheartBeatsforthecaptebirdofsong。
Andwhenthosemellownotesarestill，Ithopsfromoffitschoralperch，O’erpathandsward，withbusybill，Allgratefulgiftstopeckandsearch。
StoreofouzeldaintieschoiceTothosewhiteswingingbarsitbrings；
AndwithalowconsolingvoiceIttalksbetweenitsflutteringwings。
DeeplyintheirbittergriefThosesufferersreciprocate，Theonesingsforitswoodlandlife，Theotherforitsmurderedmate。
Butdeeperdoththesecretprove，Unitingthosesadcreaturesso；
Humanity’sgreatlinkoflove，Thecommonsympathyofwoe。
WelldinedfromdaytodayIstheswiftspeechbetweenthemtwain；
Forwhenthebirdisscaredaway，Thecapteburststosongagain。
Yetdailywithitsflatteringvoice，Talkingamiditsflutteringwings，StoreofouzeldaintieschoiceWithbusybillthepoorbirdbrings。
AndshallIsay，tillweakwithageDownfromitsdrowsybranchitdrops，Itwillnotleavethatcaptecage，Norceasethosebusysearchinghops？
Ah，no!themoralwillnotstrain；
Anothersensewillmakeitrange，Anothermatewillsootheitspain，Anotherseasonworkachange。
Butthro’thele-longsummer，tried，Apuredevotionwemaysee；
TheebbandflowofNature’stide；
Aself-forgetfulsympathy。
BlueJuly，brightJuly，Monthofstormsandgorgeousblue；
oletlightningso’erthysky，Heavyfallsofdrenchingdew；
Summercrown!o’erglenandgladeShrinkinghyacinthsintheirshade；
Iwelcometheewithallthypride，IlovetheelikeanEasternbride。
ThoughallthesingingdaysaredoneAsinthoseclimesthatclaspthesun；
ThoughthecuckooinhisthroatLeavestothedovehislasttwinnote；
Cometomewiththylustrouseye，Golden-dawningoriently，Comewithallthyshiningblooms，Thyrichredroseandrollingglooms。
Thoughthecuckoodothbutsing’cuk，cuk，’
Andthedovealonedothcoo；
Thoughthecushatspinshercoo-r-roo，r-r-roo-
Tothecuckoo’shalting’cuk。’
SweetJuly，warmJuly!
Monthwhenmossesnearthestream，Softgreenmossesthickandshy，Arearaptureandadream。
SummerQueen!whosefootthefernFadesbeneathwhilechestnutsburn；
Iwelcometheewiththyfiercelove，Gloombelowandgleamabove。
Thoughalltheforesttreeshangdumb，Withdenseleafinesso’ercome；
Thoughthenightingaleandthrush，Pipenotfromtheboughorbush；
Cometomewiththylustrouseye，Azure-meltingwesterly，Therapturesofthyfaceunfold，Andwelcomeinthyrobesofgold!
Tho’thenightingalebroods——’sweet-chuck-sweet’-
Andtheouzelflutessochill，Tho’thethrostlegesbutoneshrillytrillTothenightingale’s’sweet-sweet。’
IwouldIwerethedropofrainThatfallsintothedancingrill，ForIshouldseekthererthen，Androllbelowthewoodedhill，UntilIreachedthesea。
AndO，tobethererswiftThatwrestleswiththewilfultide，AndflingthebrinyweedsasideThato’erthefoamybillowsdrift，UntilIcametothee!
Iwouldthatafterwearystrife，Andstormbeneaththepipingwind，ThecurrentofmytruefreshlifeMightcomeunmingled，unimbrined，Towherethoufloatestfree。
Mightfindtheeinsomeamberclime，Wheresunlightdazzlesonthesail，AnddreamingofourplightedvaleMightsealthedream，andblessthetime，Withmaidenkissesthree。
Cometomeinanyshape!
Asactorcrown’dwithne，Inthycurlstheclusteringgrape，-
Oravanquishedslave：
’TisthycomingthatIcrave，Andthyfoldingserpenttwine，Closeanddumb；
Ne’erfromthatwouldIescape；
Cometomeinanyshape!
Onlycome!
Onlycome，andinmybreastHidethyshameorshowthypride；
Inmybosombecaressed，Nevermoretopart；
Comeintomyyearningheart；
I，theserpent，golden-eyed，Twineroundthee；
Twinetheewithnovenomedtest；
Absencemakesthevenomednest；
Cometome!
Cometome，mylover，come!
oletsonthetenderstemDieandwitherintheirbloom，Underdewygrass；
Come，mylover，or，alas!
Ishalldie，shalldielikethem，Frailandlone；
Cometome，mylover，come!
Letthybosombemytomb：
Come，myown!
SweptfromhisfleetuponthatfatalnightWhengreatPoseidon’ssudden-veeringwrathScatteredthehappyhomeward-floatingGreeksLikefoam-flakesoffthewaves，theKingofCreteHeldloftycommunewiththedarkSea-god。
Hisbrowswerecrownedwithctory，hischeeksWereflushedwithtriumph，butthemightyjoyOfTroy’sdestructionandhisowngreatdeedsPassed，forthethoughtsofhomeweredearernow，Andsweetthememoryofwifeandchild，Andwearynowthetenlong，foreignyears，Andterriblethedoubtofshortdelay-
Moreterrible，OGods!hecried，butstopped；
Thenraisedhisvoiceuponthestormandprayed。
Othou，ifinjured，injurednotbyme，Poseidon!whomsea-deitiesobeyAndmortalsworship，hearme!forindeedItwasouroathtoaidthecauseofGreece，NotunespousedbyGods，andmostofallBythee，ifgentlecurrents，havenscalm，Fairwindsandprosperousvoyage，andtheShapeImpersonateinmanyaperiloushour，BothinthestatelycouncilsoftheKings，Andwhenthehuskybattlemurmuredthick，Maytestifyofsercesperformed!
Butnowtheseasarehaggardwiththywrath，Thybreathistempest!neverattheshoresOfhostileIliumdidthystormfulbrowsBetraysuchfiercemagnificence!notevenOnthatwilddaywhen，madwithtorchandglare，ThefranticcrowdswitheyeslikestarngwolvesBurstfromtheirportsimpregnable，astreamOfheadlongfurytowardthehissingdeep；
Wherethenfull-armedIstoodinguard，compactBesidethee，andalone，withbrandandspear，Weheldatbaytheswarmingbrood，andpouredBloodofchoicewarriorsonthefoot-ploughedsands!
Thou，meantime，darkwithconflict，asacloudThatthickensinthebosomoftheWestOverquenchedsunset，circledroundwithflame，HugeasabillowrunningfromthewindsLongdistances，tillwithblackshipwreckswoln，Itflingsitsangrymaneaboutthesky。
Andlikethatbillowheangereitburst；
AndlikethatcloudurgedbyimpulsestormWithchargeofthunder，lightning，andthedrenchOftorrents，thouinallthymajestyOfmightinessdidstfalluponthewar!
Rememberthatgreatmoment!NorforgetTheaidIgavethee；howmyreadyspearFlewswiftlysecondingthymortalstroke，Where’erthepresswashottest；neverslackedMyarmitsduty，normineeyeitsaim，Thoughterriblytheycompassedus，andstoodThickasanAutumnforest，whosebrownhair，Lustrouswithsunlight，bythestillincreaseOfheattoglowingheatconceeslikezealOfradiance，tillatthepitchofnoon’TisseizedwithconflagrationanddistendsHorridlyoverleaguesofdoom’ddomain；
Minglingthescreamsofbirds，thecriesofbrutes，Thewailofcreaturesinthecovertpent，Howls，yells，andshrieksofagony，thehissOfseethingsap，andcrashoffallingboughsTogetherinitsdullvoraciousroar。
Socloselyandsofearfullytheythrong’d，Savagewithphantasiesofctory，Aseaofduskyshapes；fordayhadpassedAndnightfellontheirdarkenedfaces，redWithfightandtorchflare；shrilltheresonantairWitheagershouts，andhoarsewithangrygroans；
Whileoverallthedenseandsullenboom，Thedinandmurmurofthemyriads，Rolledwithitsawfulintervals，asthoughThebattlebreathed，orasagainsttheshoreWavesgatherbacktoheavethemselvesanew。
Thatnightsleepdroppednotfromthedrearyskies，NorcouldtheprowessofourchiefsopposeThatseaofragingmen。Butwhatwerethey？
Orwhatismanopposedtothee？ItshopesArewrecks，himselfthedrowning，driftingweedThatwandersonthywaters；suchasI
Whoseethescatteredremnantsofmyfleet，Rememberingthedaywhenfirstwesailed，EachgladshipshininglikethemorningstarWithpromisefortheworld。Oh!suchasI
Thusdarklydriftingonthedrowningwaves。
OGodofwaters!’tisadreadfulthingTosufferforanelunrevealed；
DreadfulitistoheartheperishingcryOfthosewelove；thesilencethatsucceedsHowdreadful!StillmytrustisfedontheeForthosethatstillremainandformyself。
AndifIhearthyswiftfoam-snortingsteedsDrawingthyduskychariot，asinThepausesofthewindIseemtohear，Deafthouartnottomyentreatingprayer!
Hastethentogeushelp，forcloselynowCretewhispersinmyears，andallmybloodRunskeenandwarmforhome，andIhaveyearning，SuchyearningasIneverfeltbefore，Toseeagainmywife，mylittleson，MyQueen，myprettynurslingoffeyears，Thedarlingofmyhopes，ourdearestpledgeOfmarriage，andourbrightestprizeoflove，Whosepartingcryringsclearestinmyheart。
Olaythishorror，much-offendedGod!
AndmakingallasfairandfirmaswhenWetrustedtothymightydepthsofold，
IvowtosacrificethefirstwhomZeusShallprompttohailusfromthewhiteseashoreAndwelcomeourreturntoroyalCrete，Anoffering，Poseidon，untothee!
Amidthedinofelementalstrife，NovoicemaypiercebutDeitysupreme：
AndDeitysupremealonecanhear，Abovethehurricane’sdiscordantshrieks，Thecryofagonizedhumanity。
NotunappeasedwasHewhosmitesthewaves，Whentohisstormyearsthewarrior’svowEntered，andfromhisfoamypinnacleTumultuoushebeheldtheprostrateform，Andknewthemightyheart。Awhilehegazed，Asdoubtfulofhispurpose，andthestorm，Consciousofthatdinedebate，withheldItsfierceemotion，intheluminousgloomOfthosesodarkirradiatingeyes!
BeneathwhosewaveringlustreshonerevealedThetumultofthepurplingdeeps，andallThethrobbingofthetempest，asitpaused，Slowlysubsiding，seemingtoawaitThesuddensignal，asafaithfulhoundPantswiththeforepawsstretchedbeforeitsnose，Athwartthegreensward，afteraneagerchase；
Itshottonguethrusttocool，itsfoamyjawsOpentolettheswiftbreathcomeandgo，ItsquickinterrogatingeyesfedkeenUponthehuntsman’scountenance，andeverLashingitssharpimpatienttailwithhaste：
Promptattheslightestsigntoscouraway，Andhangitselfafreshbythebleedingfangs，Upontheneckofsomedeath-singledstag，Whoseroyalantlers，eyes，andstumblingkneesWillsupplicatetheGodsinmutedespair。
Thistimenotmute，noryetinvainthistime!
ForstilltheburdenoftheearnestvoiceAndallthedgloriesitrevokedSankintheGod，withthatabsorbedsuspenseFeltonlybytheOlympians，whosemindsUnboundedlikeourmortalbrain，perceeAllthingscomplete，theend，theaimofall；
TowhomthecrownandconsequenceofdeedsAreeverpresentwiththedeeditself。
Andnowthepouringsurges，vastandsmooth，Grewwearyofrestraint，andheavedthemselvesHeadlongbeneathhim，breakingathisfeetWithwildimportunatecriesandangrywail；
Likecrowdsthatshoutforbreadandhungermore。