Eagle! this is not thy sphere! <br />Warrior-bird, what seek'st thou here? <br />Wherefore by the fountain's brink <br />Doth thy royal pinion sink? <br />Wherefore on the violet's bed <br />Lay'st thou thus thy drooping head? <br />Thou that hold'st the blast in scorn, <br />Thou that wear'st the wings of mourn. <br /> <br />Eagle! wilt thou not arise? <br />Look upon thine own bright skies! <br />Lift thy glance! the fiery sun <br />There his pride pf place has won, <br />And the mountain lark is there, <br />And sweet sound hath fill'd the air: <br />Hast thou left that realm on high? <br />-Oh, it can be but to die! <br />Eagle! Eagle! thou hast bowed <br />From thine empire o'er the cloud! <br />Thou that hadst ethereal birth, <br />Thou hast stoop'd too near the earth, <br />And the hunter's shaft hath found thee, <br />And the toils of death have bound thee, <br />Wherefore didst thou leave thy place, <br />Creature of a kingly race? <br /> <br />Wert thou weary of thy throne? <br />Was the sky's dominion lone? <br />Chill and lone it well might be, <br />Yet that mighty wing was free! <br />Now the chain is o'er thee cast: <br />From thy heart the blood flows fast, <br />Woe for gifted souls and high! <br />Is not such their destiny?<br /><br />Felicia Dorothea Hemans<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-wounded-eagle/
