Poems (Tynan)/The Oak said to the Eagle
CUCKOO SONGS
THE OAK SAID TO THE EAGLE
The Oak said to the Eagle:
How old art thou?
Clouds and the sunlight regal
Are on thy brow.
How old art thou?
Clouds and the sunlight regal
Are on thy brow.
But the Eagle: Thine age, brother,
Tell it again.
We are old, both one and the other,
Past dreams of men.
Tell it again.
We are old, both one and the other,
Past dreams of men.
And the Oak: Mine age hath thriven
A thousand years,
'Gainst the winds and the rains of heaven,
And lightning's spears.
A thousand years,
'Gainst the winds and the rains of heaven,
And lightning's spears.
I have seen men born and buried,
How long, how long?
The race of the red deer harried,
That was so strong.
How long, how long?
The race of the red deer harried,
That was so strong.
But the Eagle laughed out scornful:
Thou dost not know
Thou graybeard, ragged and mournful,
How youth doth go.
Thou dost not know
Thou graybeard, ragged and mournful,
How youth doth go.
As an eagle cock I knew thee
An acorn smooth,
When the wind from the tree-top blew thee.
Look at my youth!
An acorn smooth,
When the wind from the tree-top blew thee.
Look at my youth!
Thou that art groaning and hoary,
That time doth kill.
Look at me, clouds for my glory,
An eaglet still!
That time doth kill.
Look at me, clouds for my glory,
An eaglet still!