The Birds and Poets 187 



A narrow space twixt flower and snow, 



An afterthought, an afterglow, 



A smile upon the waning year, 



A ray to shine through nature's tear." 



Frances Laughton Mace refers to the season as 

 one of peace and prayer, after the joy and songs of 

 summer : 



"Is it that Nature calls us 

 Her services of peace to share? 

 After the song the silence — 

 After the praise the prayer." 



Riley contributes this refreshing note of opti- 

 mism: 



"While birds in scattered flight are blown 



Aloft and lost in dusky mist. 

 And truant boys scud home alone 



'Neath skies of gold and amethyst; 

 While twilight falls, and Echo calls 



Across the haunted atmosphere. 

 With low, sweet laughs at intervals, — 



So reigns the rapture of the year. 



Then ho! and hey! and whoop-hooray! 



Though winter clouds be looming, 

 Remember a November day 

 Is merrier than mildest May 



With all her blossoms blooming." 



No month can be gray and dead that brings us 

 the hermit thrush. This finest of songsters may be 



