And eyes, seems listening to far welcomings, Two golden stars, like tokens from the Blest, He smiles as though he said "Thy will be done": His eyes, they see not those illuminings; His ears, they hear not what the Blackbird sings. Frederick Tennyson [1807-1898] THE BLACKBIRD WHEN smoke stood up from Ludlow And mist blew off from Teme, The blackbird in the coppice "Lie down, lie down, young yeoman; I heard the tune he sang me, Then my soul within me Took up the blackbird's strain, And still beside the horses Along the dewy lane It sang the song again: The Blackbird "Lie down, lie down, young yeoman; The sun moves always west; The road one treads to labor Will lead one home to rest, And that will be the best." Alfred Edward Housman [1859 1479 THE BLACKBIRD THE nightingale has a lyre of gold; The lark's is a clarion call, And the blackbird plays but a box-wood flute, But I love him best of all. For his song is all of the joy of life, We too have listened till he sang Our hearts and lips together. William Ernest Henley [1849-1903] THE BLACKBIRD Ov al the birds upon the wing 'Tis sweet, wi' yerly-wakèn eyes Vrom new-pleshed hedges ar vrom copse, Var when my work is al a-done How in my buoyhood I did rove An' we da hear the blackbirds zing William Barnes [1801-1886] ROBERT OF LINCOLN MERRILY Swinging on brier and weed, Near to the nest of his little dame, Over the mountain-side or mead, Robert of Lincoln is telling his name: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Snug and safe is that nest of ours, Hidden among the summer flowers. Chee, chee, chee. Robert of Lincoln Robert of Lincoln is gayly dressed, Wearing a bright black wedding-coat; White are his shoulders and white his crest. Hear him call in his merry note: Spink, spank, spink; Look, what a nice new coat is mine, Sure there was never a bird so fine. Chee, chee, chee. Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife, Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings, Passing at home a patient life, Broods in the grass while her husband sings: Spink, spank, spink; Brood, kind creature; you need not fear Thieves and robbers while I am here. Chee, chee, chee. Modest and shy as a nun is she; Spink, spank, spink; Never was I afraid of man; Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can! Chee, chee, chee. Six white eggs on a bed of hay, Flecked with purple, a pretty sight! There as the mother sits all day, Robert is singing with all his might: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Nice good wife, that never goes out, Keeping house while I frolic about. Chee, chee, chee. 1481 Soon as the little ones chip the shell, Spink, spank, spink; This new life is likely to be Hard for a gay young fellow like me. Chee, chee, chee. Robert of Lincoln at length is made Sober with work, and silent with care; Off is his holiday garment laid, Half forgotten that merry air: Spink, spank, spink; Nobody knows but my mate and I Where our nest and our nestlings lie. Chee, chee, chee. Summer wanes; the children are grown; Spink, spank, spink; When you can pipe that merry old strain, Chee, chee, chee. William Cullen Bryant [1794-1878] THE O'LINCON FAMILY A FLOCK of merry singing-birds were sporting in the grove; Some were warbling cheerily, and some were making love: There were Bobolincon, Wadolincon, Winterseeble, Conquedle, A livelier set was never led by tabor, pipe, or fiddle,Crying, "Phew, shew, Wadolincon, see, see, Bobolincon, Down among the tickletops, hiding in the buttercups! |