THE GREAT WHITE OWL.
151
"Give you good-morrow, friend," I cried.
He wheeled his large round head,
Solemn and stately, from side to side,
But never a word he said.
He wheeled his large round head,
Solemn and stately, from side to side,
But never a word he said.
"O lonely creature, weird and white,
Why are you sitting there,
Like a glimmering ghost from the still midnight,
In the beautiful morning air?"
Why are you sitting there,
Like a glimmering ghost from the still midnight,
In the beautiful morning air?"
He spurned the rock with his talons strong,
No human speech brooked he;
Like a snow-flake huge he sped along
Swiftly and noiselessly.
No human speech brooked he;
Like a snow-flake huge he sped along
Swiftly and noiselessly.
His wide, slow-waving wings so white,
Heavy and soft did seem;
Yet rapid as a dream his flight,
And silent as a dream.
Heavy and soft did seem;
Yet rapid as a dream his flight,
And silent as a dream.
And when a distant crag he gained,
Bright-twinkling like a star,
He shook his shining plumes, and deigned
To watch me from afar.
Bright-twinkling like a star,
He shook his shining plumes, and deigned
To watch me from afar.
