 | Hagar |  |
204
THE OWL.
The winter winds are blowing,
The trees are stripped and bare;
The ice is on the river,
And the snow is everywhere.
The trees are stripped and bare;
The ice is on the river,
And the snow is everywhere.
Upon the belfry tower,
The moon is shining bright,
And over field and wood-land
It sheds a softened light.
The moon is shining bright,
And over field and wood-land
It sheds a softened light.
I see a grey owl sitting
Upon a snow-clad stone,
And wonder why it lingers
Out in the cold alone.
Upon a snow-clad stone,
And wonder why it lingers
Out in the cold alone.
I know up in the belfry,
It hides all thro' the day,
It shuns the glare of noon-tide;
And sleeps the hours away.
It hides all thro' the day,
It shuns the glare of noon-tide;
And sleeps the hours away.
But when the fowls are gathered,
And the sheep are in the fold;
The grey owl sits and shivers,
Out in the bitter cold.
And the sheep are in the fold;
The grey owl sits and shivers,
Out in the bitter cold.
And blinking at the moon-beams,
Wishes they were less bright;
While it gives its doleful hooting,
To all the winds of night.
Wishes they were less bright;
While it gives its doleful hooting,
To all the winds of night.
205
I would not be a night-bird,
That sleeps the morn away,
I love too well the sunshine,
The broad, full light of day.
That sleeps the morn away,
I love too well the sunshine,
The broad, full light of day.
I want to gather knowledge
From all the things I see,
To keep my eyes wide open
So an owl I would not be.
From all the things I see,
To keep my eyes wide open
So an owl I would not be.
| Hagar | |