A Bird Was Seen Aloft in Air; the Sun

A bird was seen aloft in air; the sun
Shone brightly round him, yet few eyes could see
His colour, few could scan his size; his form
Appear'd to some like a huge bow unbent,
To others like a shapeless stake hurl'd by,
With a stiff breeze against it in its flight.
It was an eagle all the while: he swoopt
Steadily onward, careless of the gang
Below him, talkative, disquisitive,
But all agreeing 'twas a bird on wing,
Some said nine inches, some said ten across.
There were old people who could recollect
That market-day, that crowd, that questioning,
Those outcries to drive off the fearless bird.
One of them I accosted; he replied,
" Yea, I have seen him, and must say for him
Now he is dead (and well it is for us)
He liked a coney or a lamb too much,
But never settled on dead carcases
To pluck out eye or tug at putrid tongue.
They who reviled him while he swept the air
Are glad enough to wear a feather now
Of that strong wing, and boast to have observ'd
Its sunny soaring on that market-day."