Poems by Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb] With Portrait engraved by E. Stodart ... in two volumes |
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TO THE BIRDS.
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 | Poems by Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb] |  |
138
TO THE BIRDS.
(AFTER THE BREAK-UP OF A LONG FROST.)
Ungrateful birds! that to my frosted pane,
One short week since, importunately flew,
Impell'd by “cupboard” love and greed of gain,
A frozen-out, appealing, pauper crew,
One short week since, importunately flew,
Impell'd by “cupboard” love and greed of gain,
A frozen-out, appealing, pauper crew,
Where are ye fled? When all your world was white,
And lying spellbound 'neath the breath that numbs,
What timepiece taught you all to guess aright
The frequently recurring hour of crumbs?
And lying spellbound 'neath the breath that numbs,
What timepiece taught you all to guess aright
The frequently recurring hour of crumbs?
Nay, did I chance to loiter, tapping bill
Or eager chirrup made your presence known,
As here you perch'd in line upon the sill
Whence you have all unanimously flown!
Or eager chirrup made your presence known,
As here you perch'd in line upon the sill
Whence you have all unanimously flown!
Pert sparrows, ever foremost at the feast,
And strutting daws were wont to meet my view,
With brave cock-robins, bright of eye and breast,
And all the titmouse tribe, in buff and blue.
And strutting daws were wont to meet my view,
With brave cock-robins, bright of eye and breast,
And all the titmouse tribe, in buff and blue.
139
The yaffel trick'd out in his parrot-green,
Wearing his bright red cap; the screeching jay,
The lesser woodpecker, so seldom seen;
The little linnet, clothed in Quaker gray;
Wearing his bright red cap; the screeching jay,
The lesser woodpecker, so seldom seen;
The little linnet, clothed in Quaker gray;
The greedy speckled thrush, the crested finch
And all his clan; he of the “golden bill,”
Only last week, disputed ev'ry inch
Upon this now deserted window-sill.
And all his clan; he of the “golden bill,”
Only last week, disputed ev'ry inch
Upon this now deserted window-sill.
But lo! a change has come! All Nature yields,
The raindrops twinkle on the gleaming ledge,
The snow forsakes the furrows of the fields,
The river flows beneath its drooping sedge;
The raindrops twinkle on the gleaming ledge,
The snow forsakes the furrows of the fields,
The river flows beneath its drooping sedge;
And now the writhing worm and portly slug,
Unconscious of their coming doom, prepare
To leave their hermit-cells, secure and snug,
And breathe once more the breath of upper air.
Unconscious of their coming doom, prepare
To leave their hermit-cells, secure and snug,
And breathe once more the breath of upper air.
So, gobbling sycophants! your need is o'er;
And ye who cringed and truckled all day long,
Now that she cannot serve you any more,
Scarce deem your benefactress worth a song!
And ye who cringed and truckled all day long,
Now that she cannot serve you any more,
Scarce deem your benefactress worth a song!
| Poems by Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb] | |