
BY - ODELL SHEPARD
BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge 1917
TO M. F. S.
A LONELY FLUTE
PROEM
LAUS MARIÆ
RECOLLECTION
NIGHTFALL
A BALLAD OF LOVE AND DEATH
BIRDS OF PASSAGE
From the opening lines, the book unfolds as a hymn to silence and sound, where a solitary flute becomes a metaphor for yearning and the unseen world. The poet weaves together reveries of nightfall, distant seas, and ancient chants, each piece echoing with the delicate balance of melancholy and wonder. Readers are invited to pause and hear the whispered melodies that hover between memory and imagination.
Spanning a range of forms— from lyrical proems and solemn ballads to fleeting sketches of everyday wonder— the collection moves through quiet landscapes and bustling city lights with equal grace. Vivid images of moonlit waters, wind‑kissed poplars, and forgotten saints linger long after the verse ends, while the recurring musical motif ties the disparate scenes together. Listening to these poems feels like being seated beside a lone flute, letting its slow, resonant breath carry you through moments both intimate and universal.
Language
en
Duration
~49 minutes (47K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Al Haines
Release date
Nov 7, 2010
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1884–1967
Best known for a Pulitzer Prize-winning life of Bronson Alcott, this scholar moved easily between literature, public service, and New England history. He taught for decades, edited classic American writers, and even served as Connecticut’s lieutenant governor.
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