Birds' Nests

Edward Thomas 1878 (London Borough of Lambeth) – 1917 (Pas-de-Calais)



he summer nests uncovered by autumn wind,
Some torn, others dislodged, all dark,
Everyone sees them: low or high in tree,
Or hedge, or single bush, they hang like a mark.

Since there's no need of eyes to see them with
I cannot help a little shame
That I missed most, even at eye's level, till
The leaves blew off and made the seeing no game.

'Tis a light pang. I like to see the nests
Still in their places, now first known,
At home and by far roads. Boys knew them not,
Whatever jays and squirrels may have done.

And most I like the winter nests deep-hid
That leaves and berries fell into:
Once a dormouse dined there on hazel-nuts,
And grass and goose-grass seeds found soil and grew.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

40 sec read
214

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXA XBXB XXXX XCXC
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 679
Words 132
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4

Edward Thomas

Philip Edward Thomas was an Anglo-Welsh poet and essayist. more…

All Edward Thomas poems | Edward Thomas Books

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