246 IN BIRD LAND. 



" My childhood's earliest thoughts are linked with thee ; 

 The sight of thee calls back the robin's song, 



Who, from the dark old tree 

 Beside the door, sang clearly all day long; 



And I, secure in childish piety. 

 Listened as if I heard an angel sing 



With news from heaven, which he could bring 

 Fresh every day to my untainted ears. 

 When birds and flowers and I were happy peers." 



A bird often affords our poet a metaphor or a 

 simile by which to represent some sad reminiscence 

 of his life. Listen to this sweet minor strain, — 



" As a twig trembles, which a bird 



Lights on to sing, then leaves unbent. 

 So is my memory thrilled and stirred; — 

 I only know she came and went." 



With what a plaintive melody the last line lingers 

 in one's mind, like some far-off melancholy strain, 

 singing itself over again and again with a persistency 

 that will not be hushed, — "I only know she came 

 and went." There are times, too, when our bard 

 falls into a slightly despondent mood, and even 

 then the birds serve to give a turn to his pensive 

 reflections, — 



" But each day brings less summer cheer, 

 Crimps more our ineffectual spring, 

 And something earlier every year 

 Our singing birds take wing." 



To my mind, he is less attractive when his verse 

 takes on this cheerless hue, and I therefore turn 

 gladly to his more jubilant lays, in which he seems 

 to have caught the joy of the full-toned bird 



