TITMOUSE

IF you would happy company win,

Dangle a palm-nut from a tree,

Idly in green to sway and spin,

Its snow-pulped kernel for bait; and see,

A nimble titmouse enter in.

Out of earth's vast unknown of air,

Out of all summer, from wave to wave,

He'll perch, and prank his feathers fair,

Jangle a glass-clear wildering stave,

And take his commons there—

This tiny son of life; this spright,

By momentary Human sought,

Plume will his wing in the dappling light,

Clash timbrel shrill and gay—

And into time's enormous nought,

Sweet-fed, will flit away.