East and west : the discovery of America and other poems

Gentle purple-throated dove
Nesting in the bamboo grove,
Cooing, cooing, cooing;
I've a secret for you, dear.
Let me whisper in your ear.
Let no other creature hear;
'T would be my undoing.

Tenderly pressed, pressed, pressed
Soft in your nest, nest, nest,
Carefully list, list, list,
If I be kissed, kissed, kissed,
If I be—

There, you know my secret now,
You, too, on the topmost bough
Wooing, wooing, wooing.
Did you tremble when he came?
Did you feel his lips a-flame?
But you shall not know his name;
'T would be my undoing.

Tenderly pressed, pressed, pressed
Close to his breast, breast, breast,
Under your nest, nest, nest,
There shall I rest, rest, rest,
There shall I—

University of Virginia Library

THE WOOD DOVE. The refrain of this poem attempts to render the peculiar pathetic rhythm of the oriental wood dove's note, which breaks off at last in the midst of a measure.

THE WOOD DOVE.

The refrain of this poem attempts to render the peculiar pathetic rhythm of the oriental wood dove's note, which breaks off at last in the midst of a measure.