University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The poetical works of William Lisle Bowles

... with memoir, critical dissertation, and explanatory notes, by the Rev. George Gilfillan
Bowles, William Lisle (1762-1850)

expand sectionI. 
VOL. I.
collapse sectionII. 
VOL. II.
expand section 
BANWELL HILL;
expand section 
THE GRAVE OF THE LAST SAXON;
expand section 
ST JOHN IN PATMOS.
expand section 
THE SORROWS OF SWITZERLAND.
expand section 
THE VILLAGER'S VERSE-BOOK.
  
SONG OF THE CID.
expand section 
POEMS, INEDITED, UNPUBLISHED, ETC.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The poetical works of William Lisle Bowles
next section

THE ROBIN REDBREAST.

1

Poor Robin sits and sings alone
When showers of driving sleet,
By the cold winds of winter blown,
The cottage casement beat.

2

Come, let him share our chimney nook,
And dry his dripping wing;
See, little Mary shuts her book,
And cries, “Poor Robin, sing!”

3

Methinks I hear his faint reply:
When cowslips deck the plain,
The lark shall carol in the sky,
And I shall sing again.
250

4

But in the cold and wintry day,
To you I owe a debt,
That in the sunshine of the May
I never can forget!
previous section The poetical works of William Lisle Bowles
next section