 | Sketches of Natural History |  |
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THE HUMMING-BIRD.
The Humming-bird! the Humming-bird,
So fairy-like and bright;
It lives among the sunny flowers,
A creature of delight!
So fairy-like and bright;
It lives among the sunny flowers,
A creature of delight!
In the radiant islands of the East,
Where fragrant spices grow,
A thousand thousand Humming-birds
Go glancing to and fro.
Where fragrant spices grow,
A thousand thousand Humming-birds
Go glancing to and fro.
Like living fires they flit about,
Scarce larger than a bee,
Among the broad Palmetto leaves,
And through the Fan-palm tree.
Scarce larger than a bee,
Among the broad Palmetto leaves,
And through the Fan-palm tree.
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And in those wild and verdant woods
Where stately Moras tower,
Where hangs from branching tree to tree
The scarlet Passion-flower;
Where stately Moras tower,
Where hangs from branching tree to tree
The scarlet Passion-flower;
Where on the mighty river banks,
La Plate or Amazon,
The Cayman like an old tree trunk,
Lies basking in the sun;
La Plate or Amazon,
The Cayman like an old tree trunk,
Lies basking in the sun;
There builds her nest, the Humming-bird
Within the ancient wood,
Her nest of silky cotton down,
And rears her tiny brood.
Within the ancient wood,
Her nest of silky cotton down,
And rears her tiny brood.
She hangs it to a slender twig,
Where waves it light and free,
As the Campanero tolls his song,
And rocks the mighty tree.
Where waves it light and free,
As the Campanero tolls his song,
And rocks the mighty tree.
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All crimson is her shining breast,
Like to the red, red rose;
Her wing is the changeful green and blue
That the neck of the Peacock shews.
Like to the red, red rose;
Her wing is the changeful green and blue
That the neck of the Peacock shews.
Thou happy, happy Humming-bird,
No winter round thee lowers;
Thou never saw'st a leafless tree,
Nor land without sweet flowers:
No winter round thee lowers;
Thou never saw'st a leafless tree,
Nor land without sweet flowers:
A reign of summer joyfulness
To thee for life is given;
Thy food the honey from the flower,
Thy drink, the dew from heaven!
To thee for life is given;
Thy food the honey from the flower,
Thy drink, the dew from heaven!
How glad the heart of Eve would be,
In Eden's glorious bowers,
To see the first, first Humming-bird
Among the first spring-flowers.
In Eden's glorious bowers,
To see the first, first Humming-bird
Among the first spring-flowers.
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Among the rainbow butterflies,
Before the rainbow shone;
One moment glancing in her sight,
Another moment, gone!
Before the rainbow shone;
One moment glancing in her sight,
Another moment, gone!
Thou little shining creature,
God saved thee from the Flood,
With the Eagle of the mountain land,
And the Tiger of the wood!
God saved thee from the Flood,
With the Eagle of the mountain land,
And the Tiger of the wood!
Who cared to save the Elephant,
He also cared for thee;
And gave those broad lands for thy home,
Where grows the Cedar-tree!
He also cared for thee;
And gave those broad lands for thy home,
Where grows the Cedar-tree!
| Sketches of Natural History | |