Mandragora/The Sea-bird

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Published in Mandragora (1917)

566933The Sea-birdJohn Cowper Powys

YOU saw my heart as it lay
    Like a hushed rock-pool, aside
From the ocean's wind-tossed spray.
    And you were hurt in your pride.

And the wild sea-bird in you
    Rose and spread out its wings,
And flapping down over cliff" and ledge.
Lighted upon that rock-pool's edge
    And troubled it thro' and thro'.

And now that its depths are dim
    And heavy and blurred and blind,
Over the purple waves you skim
And bathe in the sun and make sport for him,
    And give yourself to the wind.

A flashing meteor of pearl,
    You laugh and waver and dart —
In silver circles you gleam and whirl,
A rainbow, a sea-bird, a demon — a girl
    Who has flown across a heart.


This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


The longest-living author of this work died in 1963, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 60 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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