The Birds and Poets 85 



Sweetness incredibly fine 1 



Is it oriole, red-bird or blue-bird, 



Or some strange un-Auduboned new bird? 



All one sir, both this bird and that bird; 



The whole flight are all the same catbird! 



The whole visible and invisible choir you see 



On one lithe twig of yon green tree. 



Flitting, feathery Blondel ! 



Listen to his rondel! 



To his lay romantical, 



To his sacred canticle. 



Hear him lilting! 



See him tilting 



His saucy head and tail, and fluttering 



While uttering 



All the difficult operas under the sun 



Just for fun ; 



Or in tipsy revelry, 



Or at love devilry, 



Or disdaining his divine gift and art, 



Like an inimitable poet 



Who captivates the world's heart, 



And don't know it. 



Hear him lilt ! 



See him tilt ! 



Then suddenly he stops 



Peers about, flirts, hops, 



As if looking where he might gather up 



The wasted ecstacy just spilt 



From the quivering cup 



Of his bliss overrun. 



Then, as in mockery of all 



