CALLING THE BIRDS
Who close beside our window-pane
Whistles thrice at the dawn of day,
And listens, for his answer fain?
Toujours gai.
Whistles thrice at the dawn of day,
And listens, for his answer fain?
Toujours gai.
Who bids the merry din resound,
While oaten pipes are silvery gray,
Ere chanticleer first turns him round?
Toujours gai.
While oaten pipes are silvery gray,
Ere chanticleer first turns him round?
Toujours gai.
AVho bids the corncrake, shrill and blithe.
Wake up on his sweet couch of hay,
And whirr against the mower's scythe?
Toujours gai.
Wake up on his sweet couch of hay,
And whirr against the mower's scythe?
Toujours gai.
Who hales the finch from dreams of love,
And linnet to his roundelay,
And from Love's arms the wooing dove?
Toujours gai.
And linnet to his roundelay,
And from Love's arms the wooing dove?
Toujours gai.
Who calls the robin and the starling,
And bids the blackbird's flute to play,
The thrush to sing: O darling, darling?
Toujours gai.
And bids the blackbird's flute to play,
The thrush to sing: O darling, darling?
Toujours gai.
Who is it wakes the sparrows' wall,
And sets a-tremble every spray,
With flutter, and chatter, and trill, and call?
Toujours gai.
And sets a-tremble every spray,
With flutter, and chatter, and trill, and call?
Toujours gai.
This whistling thing at sweet o' the year,
O is he bird, or boy, or fay?
Mayhap, some fairy chanticleer.
Toujours gai.
O is he bird, or boy, or fay?
Mayhap, some fairy chanticleer.
Toujours gai.
May he be fed on honey and kisses,
And where the undying roses stay
Wake the sweet world to newer blisses
Toujours gai.
And where the undying roses stay
Wake the sweet world to newer blisses
Toujours gai.