University of Virginia Library

THE SEDGE-WARBLER.

Sedge-warbler, what's to do?
Thy chatter pierces through
The flutter of the fields, the whisper of the wood;
And yet, meseems, their voice
Doth rather say, “Rejoice!”
Than “Grieve!” The world is well enough and life is good.

55

The world is all a-dream.
Why not, then, by the stream
Suffer thyself be rocked and cradled in thy nest?
To scold in Winter drear
Is time enough; but, here
When Summer is, to dream the hours away is best.
The year hath but one June;
It passeth oversoon
And Autumn comes apace, for Winter to prepare.
So for the Summer day
Behoveth all be gay
And give a longsome tryst to thought-taking and care.