Songs of the Seasons :: :: University of Virginia Library

Oh! the delight of listening,
When song-life is astir!
The blackbird on the hawthorn,
And cushat on the fir:
The lintie on the lime-tree,
And laverock in the lift,
The finch among the hazels
Making its merry love-shrift.

II

The peeswit o'er the meadows
That skirt the sedgy rill,
And the grey whaup with its eerie cry
Disporting on the hill:
The owl that from the ivies
Gives challenge to the moon,
And the corn-crake at his vigils
In the balmy eves of June.

III

The sparrow on the house-top,
Chattering late and early,
The swallow cruizing with voiced wing
Athwart the “riggs o' barley.”

The sultan of the grey-fowl
Convoking his haraam,
And the moorcock on the heath-beds
Joining chorus with the lamb.

IV

The weary and the cheery,
The solemn and the sweet,
The grating and the musical
In our mountain voices meet.
The screaming of the osprey,
The clanging of the crane,
The plaining of the sea-mew
O'er the altars of the main:

V

The rocky island altars,
Where sacrifice is due,
Of many a costly cargo,
And many a gallant crew;
Of many a shapely vessel
Trimmed for the eyes' delight,
Of many a venturous seaman
That has fought for Britain's right.

VI

Peep! playmate of the fairy!
From below your curtains coy;
The pulses of the greenwood
Are quivering with joy.

From his frolics on the larch-top
Ceases the pranksome squirrel,
With perk'd ear giving audience
To the warbling of the merle!

VII

The dormouse at its banquet,
Upon the beechen mast,
Turns dainty as it catches
The carols chiming past:
The carols of the song-birds—
The music of the grove—
The concord and the discord
In the hymns of feather'd love.

VIII

All that is best within us
Confesses to the charm,
For the joy of song is kindled
In the forest and the farm.

IX

Warble! warble! warble!
Warble at your will!
Hearts and veins of marble
Throb with every thrill.
Carol! carol! carol!
Happy lark and linnet!
When your lay is ended
Then again begin it.

X

Warble! warble! warble!
Ousel and willow wren!
Who with joy have listened
Will list with joy again—
With joy and sweet regarding
To the concert of the grove,
To the blending streams of melody
That flow from feather'd love.