Gulls

Gulls
William Carlos Williams

My townspeople, beyond in the great world, 
are many with whom it were far more 
profitable for me to live than here with you. 
These whirr about me calling, calling! 
and for my own part I answer them, loud as I can, 
but they, being free, pass! 
I remain! Therefore, listen! 
For you will not soon have another singer. 

First I say this: you have seen 
the strange birds, have you not, that sometimes 
rest upon our river in winter? 
Let them cause you to think well then of the storms 
that drive many to shelter. These things 
do not happen without reason. 

And the next thing I say is this: 
I saw an eagle once circling against the clouds 
over one of our principal churches— 
Easter, it was—a beautiful day! 
three gulls came from above the river 
and crossed slowly seaward! 
Oh, I know you have your own hymns, I have heard them— 
and because I knew they invoked some great protector 
I could not be angry with you, no matter 
how much they outraged true music— 

You see, it is not necessary for us to leap at each other, 
and, as I told you, in the end 
the gulls moved seaward very quietly.