Winter Birds 



By Alfred Kummer 



In Summer's brightest day, 

 From tree-tops, by the way, 

 Birds sing in cheery song. 

 Our days and joys prolong. 



In Spring, the flowers, once dead. 

 Again Hft up their head ; 

 And birds of passage sing 

 To welcome lovely Spring. 



But, in the Winter, too. 

 Bird notes are not a few ; 

 The black-capped chickadee 

 Sings from the snow-clad tree. 



The blue jay and shore lark. 

 When clouds bring gloom and dark, 

 ^lid snows and freezing cold. 

 Sing cheer, — their hearts are bold. 



The shrike, or butcher-bird, 

 Is not by cold disturbed ; 

 And e'en the cawing crow 

 Fears neither cold nor snow. 



Along our frozen streams. 

 When snow, like diamonds, gleams, 

 Where Winter's works are rife, 

 E'en there you'll find bird-life. 



The ruby-kinglet crowned, 

 For daintiness renowned, 

 Comes in a restless crowd 

 To sing o'er Winter's shroud. 



Shall we, with Reason's light. 

 Give way to Winter's night? 

 Xo; let us take to wing, 

 With birds and angels sing. 



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