Author: William Ernest Henley

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    Gulls in an aery morrice
    Gleam and vanish and gleam . . .
    The full sea, sleepily basking,
    Dreams under skies of dream.

    Gulls in an aery morrice
    Circle and swoop and close . . .
    Fuller and ever fuller
    The rose of the morning blows.

    Gulls, in an aery morrice
    Frolicking, float and fade . . .
    O, the way of a bird in the sunshine,
    The way of a man with a maid!

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem relies heavily on the use of natural imagery, with the gulls, the sea, the sky, and the rose serving as key elements in its construction. The repeated reference to "gulls in an aery morrice" creates a rhythmic and visual pattern, which not only provides structure but also creates a sense of movement and freedom. The poet uses this repeated motif to explore wider themes of nature's beauty, the joy of living in the moment, and the possibilities of what lies ahead.

The tone of the poem is reflective and joyful, with an underlying note of longing. The final lines, "O, the way of a bird in the sunshine, / The way of a man with a maid!" reveal a desire for simplicity and unbridled joy, akin to the gulls' freedom. Literary devices like alliteration in "fuller and ever fuller" and "frolicking, float and fade" add to the poem's musical quality, while the metaphor comparing the gull's flight to a relationship between lovers, provides profundity. The structure of the piece, with its repeated opening line in each stanza, lends it a ballad-like quality, further emphasizing its themes of longing and the natural world.