 | Poetical works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox |  |
BIRD OF HOPE
Soar not too high, O bird of Hope!
Because the skies are fair;
The tempests may come on apace
And overcome thee there.
Because the skies are fair;
The tempests may come on apace
And overcome thee there.
When far above the mountain tops
Thou soarest, over all—
If, then, the storm should press thee back,
How great would be thy fall!
Thou soarest, over all—
If, then, the storm should press thee back,
How great would be thy fall!
And thou wouldst lie here at my feet,
A poor and lifeless thing,—
A torn and bleeding birdling,
With a limp and broken wing.
A poor and lifeless thing,—
A torn and bleeding birdling,
With a limp and broken wing.
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Sing not too loud, O bird of Hope!
Because the day is bright;
The sunshine cannot always last—
The morn precedes the night.
Because the day is bright;
The sunshine cannot always last—
The morn precedes the night.
And if thy song is of the day,
Then when the day grows dim,
Forlorn and voiceless thou wouldst sit
Among the shadows grim.
Then when the day grows dim,
Forlorn and voiceless thou wouldst sit
Among the shadows grim.
Oh! I would have thee soar and sing,
But not too high, or loud,
Remembering that day meets night—
The brilliant sun the cloud.
But not too high, or loud,
Remembering that day meets night—
The brilliant sun the cloud.
| Poetical works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox | |