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Literary
June 20, 1835
Republican Herald
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A poem addressing a humming-bird hovering over artificial flowers, using the bird's instinct to metaphorically warn against deception and false beauty, advocating for genuine, sincere connections in nature and life.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
TO A HUMMING-BIRD,
HOVERING OVER ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS
Why dost thou hover there—
Thy light wings radiant with each rainbow hue
To breathe the woodbine's balmy air
Or drink from violet-cup the scented dew?
Ah! has the roseate dye,
Of art's gay flower and fashion's mimic toy,
Caught thy keenly-glancing eye,
And woke anew thy low, sweet hum of joy?
When flitting o'er the charms that pleased thy sight;
No perfume greeted thee,
Silent was then thy minstrelsy,
And far away is bent thine eager flight!
Oh, could the trusting heart
Know, by unerring instinct such as thine,
The spell of the deceiver's art—
Its faithless tint and deeply-wrought design
Then might we freely love
The incense-breathing truth of souls sincere,
Whose fragrance weekly floats above,
And shun the scentless flowers, that perish here.
Thou bright and fairy thing!
If, in thy sports, amid earth's verdant bowers,
A false hue lures—ah! swiftly wing
Thy gladsome way back to the odorous flowers!
H. T. Tuckerman.
TO A HUMMING-BIRD,
HOVERING OVER ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS
Why dost thou hover there—
Thy light wings radiant with each rainbow hue
To breathe the woodbine's balmy air
Or drink from violet-cup the scented dew?
Ah! has the roseate dye,
Of art's gay flower and fashion's mimic toy,
Caught thy keenly-glancing eye,
And woke anew thy low, sweet hum of joy?
When flitting o'er the charms that pleased thy sight;
No perfume greeted thee,
Silent was then thy minstrelsy,
And far away is bent thine eager flight!
Oh, could the trusting heart
Know, by unerring instinct such as thine,
The spell of the deceiver's art—
Its faithless tint and deeply-wrought design
Then might we freely love
The incense-breathing truth of souls sincere,
Whose fragrance weekly floats above,
And shun the scentless flowers, that perish here.
Thou bright and fairy thing!
If, in thy sports, amid earth's verdant bowers,
A false hue lures—ah! swiftly wing
Thy gladsome way back to the odorous flowers!
H. T. Tuckerman.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Nature
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Humming Bird
Artificial Flowers
Deception
Nature
Truth
Instinct
Sincere Souls
What entities or persons were involved?
H. T. Tuckerman
Literary Details
Title
To A Humming Bird, Hovering Over Artificial Flowers
Author
H. T. Tuckerman
Key Lines
Why Dost Thou Hover There—
Thy Light Wings Radiant With Each Rainbow Hue
To Breathe The Woodbine's Balmy Air
Or Drink From Violet Cup The Scented Dew?
Oh, Could The Trusting Heart
Know, By Unerring Instinct Such As Thine,
The Spell Of The Deceiver's Art—
Its Faithless Tint And Deeply Wrought Design
Then Might We Freely Love
The Incense Breathing Truth Of Souls Sincere,
Whose Fragrance Weekly Floats Above,
And Shun The Scentless Flowers, That Perish Here.