TO THE WILD CANARIES
I have watched you so oft when a child, blithe canaries,
Beside the cool stream where you warbled and drank;
When you helped me to gather the luscious blackberries
That trailed their long vines o'er the moss-covered bank.
Beside the cool stream where you warbled and drank;
When you helped me to gather the luscious blackberries
That trailed their long vines o'er the moss-covered bank.
'Neath the tall alder's shade with their green and gold tassels
Dropping on the swift current and gliding away,
I have watched you and built such aerial castles
They stayed not to fade with the close of the day.
Dropping on the swift current and gliding away,
I have watched you and built such aerial castles
They stayed not to fade with the close of the day.
You swing to and fro on the rough Spanish thistle
And gather its seed for your wee baby-broods,
You mingle your songs with the mocking bird's whistle
And on each quiet pause your blithe twitter intrudes.
And gather its seed for your wee baby-broods,
You mingle your songs with the mocking bird's whistle
And on each quiet pause your blithe twitter intrudes.
You bathe where the ripples play over the pebbles
And dash the light spray o'er your beautiful wings,
While the brook's cheerful music in clear little trebles
Joins the oriole's song where he carols and swings.
And dash the light spray o'er your beautiful wings,
While the brook's cheerful music in clear little trebles
Joins the oriole's song where he carols and swings.
You belong to the woodland choir, and your sweet voices
Add much to the charm of their anthems of praise;
In Spring when all nature awaking rejoices
You chant with the rest Summer's sweet prophecies.
Add much to the charm of their anthems of praise;
In Spring when all nature awaking rejoices
You chant with the rest Summer's sweet prophecies.
You are friends to the lover of nature, your beauty,
The gold of your breasts and the grace of your forms
Are beautiful gems, linked with every-day duty
And sunbeams to cheer after bleak cloudy storms.
The gold of your breasts and the grace of your forms
Are beautiful gems, linked with every-day duty
And sunbeams to cheer after bleak cloudy storms.
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