 | Later Lyrics |  |
250
THE LAST BIRD.
Little Bird that singest
Far atop this warm December day,
Heaven bestead thee, that thou wingest,
Ere the welcome song is done, thy way
Far atop this warm December day,
Heaven bestead thee, that thou wingest,
Ere the welcome song is done, thy way
To more certain weather,
Where, built high and solemnly, the skies,
Shaken by no storm together,
Fixed in vaults of steadfast sapphire rise!
Where, built high and solemnly, the skies,
Shaken by no storm together,
Fixed in vaults of steadfast sapphire rise!
There the smile that mocks us
Answers with its warm serenity;
There the prison-ice that locks us
Melts forgotten in a purple sea.
Answers with its warm serenity;
There the prison-ice that locks us
Melts forgotten in a purple sea.
251
There thy tuneful brothers,
In the palm's green plumage waiting long,
Mate them with the myriad others,
Like a broken rainbow bound with song.
In the palm's green plumage waiting long,
Mate them with the myriad others,
Like a broken rainbow bound with song.
Winter scarce is hidden,
Veiled within this fair, deceitful sky:
Fly, ere, from his ambush bidden,
He descend in ruin swift and nigh!
Veiled within this fair, deceitful sky:
Fly, ere, from his ambush bidden,
He descend in ruin swift and nigh!
By the Summer stately,
Truant, thou wast fondly reared and bred:
Dost thou linger here so lately,
Knowing not thy beauteous friend is dead,—
Truant, thou wast fondly reared and bred:
Dost thou linger here so lately,
Knowing not thy beauteous friend is dead,—
Like to hearts, that, clinging
Fervent where their first delight was fed,
Move us with untimely singing
Of the hopes whose blossom-time is sped?
Fervent where their first delight was fed,
Move us with untimely singing
Of the hopes whose blossom-time is sped?
252
Beauties have their hour,
Safely perched on the spring-budding tree:
For the ripened soul is trust and power.
And beyond, the calm eternity.
Safely perched on the spring-budding tree:
For the ripened soul is trust and power.
And beyond, the calm eternity.
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