This poem was included in the original 1915 edition.
YE aspiring ones, listen to the story of the unknown Who lies here with no stone to mark the place. As a boy reckless and wanton, Wandering with gun in hand through the forest Near the mansion of Aaron Hatfield, I shot a hawk perched on the top Of a dead tree. He fell with guttural cry At my feet, his wing broken. Then I put him in a cage Where he lived many days cawing angrily at me When I offered him food. Daily I search the realms of Hades For the soul of the hawk, That I may offer him the friendship Of one whom life wounded and caged.
, 9 months ago
Brady c you are an idiot. you must not realize what the poem is trying to say. The boy is obviously in regret of shooting the hawk. He is trying to say sorry in his own way. Man some people are just stupid. At least after he shot the bird, he felt compassion and tried to help it. Not many people do that. And on top of that he shot the bird because he was lonely and just wanted a friend. You have to read this beyond the point of its words.
, 8 months ago
If it helps, Hades is the place of the dead in classical mythology. Therfore, he is dead and searching in Hades for the bird he shot while alive, regretting his failure to suclessfully help the bird and his motivations for cageing the bird. However, Raven, you should probably not call Brady C an idiot for posting his inital reaction.
, 8 months ago
Well said, douglas. We often forget that comments are off the top of the head; an immediate reaction to something that touched the person. Perhaps he felt a stronger connection to the hawk at first reading. I hope Brady continues to read through the Anthology. I'd be interested in hearing how he came to be reading it.
, 25 days ago
This is agreat poem and if you realy understand it you will know it better and you will learn to love this piece.
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Brady C. , 9 months ago
I think it is weird that he looking for the realms of hedes. Nice of him to shoot a hawk and them trap him in cage.