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THE KINGFISHER.
Could you have heard the kingfisher scream and scold at me
When I went this morning early down to the smiling sea!
He clamored so loud and harshly, I laughed at him for his pains,
And off he flew with a shattered note, like the sound of falling chains.
When I went this morning early down to the smiling sea!
He clamored so loud and harshly, I laughed at him for his pains,
And off he flew with a shattered note, like the sound of falling chains.
He perched on the rock above me, and kept up such a din,
And looked so fine with his collar snow-white beneath his chin,
And his cap of velvet, black and bright, and his jacket of lovely blue,
I looked, admired, and called to him, “Good morning! How do you do?”
And looked so fine with his collar snow-white beneath his chin,
And his cap of velvet, black and bright, and his jacket of lovely blue,
I looked, admired, and called to him, “Good morning! How do you do?”
But his kingship was so offended! He had n't a pleasant word,
Only the crossest jargon ever screamed by a bird.
The gray sandpiper on one leg stood still in sheer surprise,
And gazed at me, and gazed at him, with shining bead-black eyes,
Only the crossest jargon ever screamed by a bird.
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And gazed at me, and gazed at him, with shining bead-black eyes,
And pensively sent up so sweet and delicate a note,
Ringing so high and clear from out her dainty, mottled throat,
That echo round the silent shore caught up the clear refrain,
And sent the charming music back again, and yet again.
Ringing so high and clear from out her dainty, mottled throat,
That echo round the silent shore caught up the clear refrain,
And sent the charming music back again, and yet again.
And the brown song-sparrow on the wall made haste with such a song,
To try and drown that jarring din! but it was all too strong.
And the swallows, like a steel-blue flash, swept past and cried aloud,
“Be civil, my dear kingfisher, you 're far too grand and proud.”
To try and drown that jarring din! but it was all too strong.
And the swallows, like a steel-blue flash, swept past and cried aloud,
“Be civil, my dear kingfisher, you 're far too grand and proud.”
But it was n't of any use at all, he was too much displeased,
And only by my absence could his anger be appeased.
So I wandered off, and as I went I saw him flutter down,
And take his place once more upon the seaweed wet and brown.
And only by my absence could his anger be appeased.
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And take his place once more upon the seaweed wet and brown.
And there he watched for his breakfast, all undisturbed at last,
And many a little fish he caught as it was swimming past.
And I forget his harsh abuse, for, up in the tall elm-tree,
A purple finch sat high and sang a heavenly song for me.
And many a little fish he caught as it was swimming past.
And I forget his harsh abuse, for, up in the tall elm-tree,
A purple finch sat high and sang a heavenly song for me.
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