

Alabama, ipi8. 35 



THE SCARLET TANAGER 



■♦^♦■ 



WHY seems the world so fair today? 

 I sought the magic wood, 

 Where stately trees in fresh array 

 And silent beauty stood. 



And lo ! within a dim, green bower 



A brilliant blossom hung. 

 But, suddenly, my scarlet flower 



Jet wings to the breezes flung! 



To his olive mate he called, "Ship-chur !" 



And he sang to her, hidden away. 

 The robin-like song of the tanager, 



A rhythmical roundelay. 



—A. B. B. 



4^ A 4X 

 TO A RED BIRD 



THOU merry-hearted sorcerer of song ! 

 Why hide there in the summer of the tree ? 

 Come down, and let me bind you with the throng 

 Of poppies proud, surcharged with envying thee. 

 Oh ! would that I, like you, could rise and float. 

 Bestirred with glowing cinders haply thrown 

 Into your singing. Is your ruddy note 

 A spark old Vulcan, cursing, died to own? 

 Or did a ruby, crazed with long unrest. 

 Escape from crown and king for you? Why start, — 

 Ah ! did you think the secret never guessed 

 Till now, so rapturous living in your heart. 

 Could fall my own, forsooth, and be for long 

 Untold, when I kneel only to your song? 



Kate Slaughter McKinney. 



I 



