THE FIRST BLUEBIRD 



Jest rain and snow! and rain again! 



And dribble! drip! and blow! 

 Then snow! and thaw! and slush! and then 



Some more rain and snow! 



This morning I was 'most afeard 



To ivake up — when, I jing! 

 I seen the sun shine out and heerd 



The first bluebird of Spring! 

 Mother she'd raised the winder some; 

 And in acrost the orchurd come, 



Soft as a angel's wing, 

 A breezy, treesy, beesy hum, 



Too sweet fer anything! 



The winter's shroud was rent a-part — 



The sun bust forth in glee. 

 And when that that bluebird sung, my hart 



Hopped out o' bed with me! 



James JVhitcomb Riley 



From Neghborly Poems 

 Copyright 1883, 1S91 and 1897. Used by permission of the pubHshers, The Bobbs-MerriU 

 Company 



