 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
BIRDS WAITING FOR BREAKFAST.
Icy breath of Winter pinches
Birds upon the leafless bough,
Sparrows, thrushes, titmice, finches,
Who will bring them succour now?
Birds upon the leafless bough,
Sparrows, thrushes, titmice, finches,
Who will bring them succour now?
Drooping beak and ruffled feather,
Hungry looks they cast below,
Sitting huddled up together
O'er their tablecloth of snow.
Hungry looks they cast below,
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O'er their tablecloth of snow.
How it glitters in its whiteness—
Every morning newly-spread;
How it mocks them with its brightness,
Snowy table, but no bread.
Every morning newly-spread;
How it mocks them with its brightness,
Snowy table, but no bread.
Not an insect or a berry,
Hip or haw is seen around,
Not a worm to make them merry,
Not a grain of corn is found.
Hip or haw is seen around,
Not a worm to make them merry,
Not a grain of corn is found.
Eye and ear, they look and listen
Opposite the window pane
Where the beams of sunrise glisten—
Till the sash is raised again.
Opposite the window pane
Where the beams of sunrise glisten—
Till the sash is raised again.
Soon their little friends will muster
In the cheerful breakfast room,
At the window soon will cluster
Girls and boys in rosy bloom.
In the cheerful breakfast room,
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Girls and boys in rosy bloom.
Birds fly down and hop and hover
For they see their breakfast comes,
As on that white table cover
Loving hands throw showers of crumbs.
For they see their breakfast comes,
As on that white table cover
Loving hands throw showers of crumbs.
Then, while birds their bounty gather,
Rosy cheeks and curly head
Bend and pray to God their Father,
“Give us, Lord, our daily bread!”
Rosy cheeks and curly head
Bend and pray to God their Father,
“Give us, Lord, our daily bread!”
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |