Pewee, Wood 



His pensive, gentle ways are voiced by his sad, sweet 

 call. The notes are as musical and restful, as much a 

 part of Nature's hymn, as the soft humming of a brook. 



CHAPMAN. Handbook of Birds. 21 



He repeats his "sweetly solemn thought" over and 

 over again, all day long and every day throughout the 

 summer. 



NELTJE BLANCHAN. Bird Neighbors. 23 



The Pewee 



The listening Dryads hushed the woods; 



The boughs were thick, and thin and few 



The golden ribbons fluttering through; 

 Their sun-embroidered, leafy hoods 



The lindens lifted to the blue; 

 Only a little forest-brook 

 The farthest hem of silence shook; 

 When in the hollow shades I heard 

 What is it, a spirit or a bird? 

 Or, strayed from Eden, desolate, 

 Some Peri calling to her mate, 

 Whom nevermore her mate would cheer? 

 "Peri! peri! peer!" 



To trace it in its green retreat 



I sought among the boughs in vain; 



And followed still the wandering strain, 

 So melancholy and so sweet, 



The dim-eyed violets yearned with pain. 



109 



