I should be dumb before thee, feathered sage! <br />And gaze upon thy phiz with solemn awe, <br />But for a most audacious wish to gauge <br />The hoarded wisdom of thy learned craw. <br /> <br />Art thou, grave bird! so wondrous wise indeed? <br />Speak freely, without fear of jest or gibe - <br />What is thy moral and religious creed? <br />And what the metaphysics of thy tribe? <br /> <br />A Poet, curious in birds and brutes, <br />I do not question thee in idle play; <br />What is thy station? What are thy pursuits? <br />Doubtless thou hast thy pleasures - what are THEY? <br /> <br />Or is 't thy wont to muse and mouse at once, <br />Entice thy prey with airs of meditation, <br />And with the unvarying habits of a dunce, <br />To dine in solemn depths of contemplation? <br /> <br />There may be much - the world at least says so - <br />Behind that ponderous brow and thoughtful gaze; <br />Yet such a great philosopher should know, <br />It is by no means wise to think always. <br /> <br />And, Bird, despite thy meditative air, <br />I hold thy stock of wit but paltry pelf - <br />Thou show'st that same grave aspect everywhere, <br />And wouldst look thoughtful, stuffed, upon a shelf. <br /> <br />I grieve to be so plain, renowned Bird - <br />Thy fame 's a flam, and thou an empty fowl; <br />And what is more, upon a Poet's word <br />I'd say as much, wert thou Minerva's owl. <br /> <br />So doff th' imposture of those heavy brows; <br />They do not serve to hide thy instincts base - <br />And if thou must be sometimes munching MOUSE, <br />Munch it, O Owl! with less profound a face.<br /><br />Henry Timrod<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-a-captive-owl/
