THE SPARROWS’ BEDTIME.
“Wee, wee, weet, tweet, tweet, tweet!”
What a clatter, what a chatter
In the village street.
“Chee, chee, cheep, cheep, chee, chee, chee!”
What a rustling, what a hustling
In the maple tree.
“Twit, twit, flit, flit, get away, quit!”
How they gabble, how they scrabble
As to rest they flit.
“Peep, peep, tweet, tweet, wee, wee, wee!”
How they hurry, how they scurry,
Noisy as can be.
“Tr’r, tr’r, sh, sh, do be still,
You’re no wood thrush, wish you could hush,
You know you can’t trill.”
“Tr’r, tr’r, r’r, r’r, yip, peep, peep,
You’re another, I’ll tell mother,
I was most asleep.”
“Tr’r, sh, chee, chee, peep, yip, yip!”
See them swinging, gaily clinging
To the branch’s tip.
“Tr’r, sh, cheep, peep, tee, hee, hee!”
Hear them titter, hear them twitter,
Full of energy.
* * * * * *
Sudden silence falls,
Not a peep is heard;
To its neighbor calls
Not one little bird,
Silent too the trees
Calm their secret keeping;
Gently sighs the breeze;
Sparrows all are sleeping.
—Adene Williams.