FOREWORD 



ing spray of the ocean, the raving and moaning of the 

 tempest. They saw, too, as have many later poets, a 

 spiritual significance and an inspiration as truly great 

 and ennobling as the conceptions of the older bards. 



Numerous American poets have found spiritual help, 

 comfort, and inspiration in birds. Frank Bolles felt the 

 presence of God in the forest where the Oven-bird sings: 



'Touting out his spirit's gladness 

 Toward the Source of life and being.'* 



Celia Thaxter mused on God's care of man and bird: 



"For are we not God's children both, 

 Thou, little Sandpiper, and I?" 



Serenity and joy came to Edna Dean Proctor: 



"My heart beside the bluebird, sings 

 And folds serene its weary wings." 



Edward Rowland Sill voiced human need in his poem: 



SPRING TWILIGHT 



Surely thus to sing, Robin, 



Thou must have in sight. 

 Beautiful skies behind the shower, 



And dawn beyond the night. 



Would thy faith were mine, Robin! 



Then, though night were long 

 All its silent hours would melt 



Their shadow into song." 



Beautiful memories that soothed pain came to Helen 

 Hunt Jackson at the mere shadow of a bird's wing across 

 her darkened window. Bird-song bowed Lucy Larcom's 

 heart in reverence: 



[xii] 



