 | The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves |  |
104
THE BLACKBIRD AND THE THRUSH
One evening as I walkéd
Down by a green bush,
I heard two birds whistling,
'Twas the blackbird and thrush;
I asked them the reason
They were so merrie,
And in answer they sang back to me,
“We are single and free.”
Down by a green bush,
I heard two birds whistling,
'Twas the blackbird and thrush;
I asked them the reason
They were so merrie,
And in answer they sang back to me,
“We are single and free.”
Next morning as that green bush
I passed all alone,
Two thrushes piped out of it,
The blackbird was flown;
I asked them the reason
Their hearts were so gay,
It was joyfully they answered me.
“We have mated to-day.”
I passed all alone,
Two thrushes piped out of it,
The blackbird was flown;
I asked them the reason
Their hearts were so gay,
It was joyfully they answered me.
“We have mated to-day.”
One morrow little after
That bush I went by,
When o'er me most piteously
I heard my thrush cry;
I asked why such sorrow
He poured from the tree,
And he answered, “'Tis the blackbird
Has my love stolen from me.”
That bush I went by,
When o'er me most piteously
I heard my thrush cry;
I asked why such sorrow
He poured from the tree,
And he answered, “'Tis the blackbird
Has my love stolen from me.”
105
Oh, freedom it is pleasant,
Love returned is delight!
But a lover deserted
Must mourn noon and night.
Break my house, take my goods,
I can gather fresh gain;
But love's ruined bower
Who shall build up again?
Love returned is delight!
But a lover deserted
Must mourn noon and night.
Break my house, take my goods,
I can gather fresh gain;
But love's ruined bower
Who shall build up again?
| The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves | |