The Birds and Poets 217 



The woodpecker is hard at work, 



A carpenter is he; 

 And you may find him hammering 



His house high up a tree. 



The bullfinch knows and practices 



The basketmaker's trade; 

 See what a cradle for his young 



The little thing has made. 



Of all the weavers that I know, 



The oriole's the best; 

 High on the apple tree he weaves 



A cozy little nest. 



The goldfinch is a fuller; 



A skillful workman he! 

 Of wool and threads he makes a nest 



That you would like to see. 



Some little birds are miners. 

 Some build upon the ground; 



And busy little tailors, too, 

 Among the birds are found. 



The cuckoo laughs to see them work; 



'Not so,' he says, 'we do; 

 My wife and I take other nests 



And live at ease — cuckoo I' " 



Our cuckoos usually build nests, however, 

 though it is said their eggs are sometimes found 

 in the nests of other species. 



