The Titmouse 



East, west, for aid I looked in vain, 

 East, west, north, south, are his domain. 

 Miles off, three dangerous miles, is home; 

 Must borrow his winds who there would come. 

 Up and away for life! be fleet! 

 The frost-king ties my fumbling feet, 

 Sings in my ears, my hands are stones, 

 Curdles the blood to the marble bones, 

 Tugs at the heart-strings, numbs the sense, 

 And hems in life with narrowing fence. 

 Well, in this broad bed lie and sleep, 

 The punctual stars will vigil keep, 

 Embalmed by purifying cold; 

 The winds shall sing their dead-march old, 

 The snow is no ignoble shroud, 

 The moon thy mourner, and the cloud. 



Softly, but this way Fate was pointing, 

 'Twas coming fast to such anointing, 

 When piped a tiny voice hard by, 

 Gay and polite, a cheerful cry, 

 Chic-chicadeedee ! saucy note 

 Out of sound heart and merry throat, 

 As if it said, "Good day, good sir! 

 Fine afternoon, old passenger! 

 Happy to meet you in these places, 

 Where January brings few faces. " 



This poet, though he live apart, 

 Moved by his hospitable heart, 

 Sped, when I passed his sylvan fort, 

 To do the honors of his court, 



51 



