The Caged Eagle

. . . I went the other day To see the birds and beasts they keep enmewed In the London Zoo. One of the first I saw — One of the first I noticed, was an Eagle, Ragged, befouled, within his iron bars He sat without a movement or a sound, And, when I stood and pitying looked at him, I saw his great sad eyes that winkless gazed Out to the horizon sky. I passed from there, And walked about the gardens hither and thither, Till all the afternoon was spent. Returning then To seek my home, again by chance I passed The Eagle's cage, and stood again and looked, And saw his great sad eyes that winkless gazed Out to the horizon sky. So I went home. . . . The Eagle is Ireland.