Singing Secrets
Bird up in the pine-tree-top,
Tossing down to me
Broken songs, to where I sit
Underneath the tree,—
Bird up in the pine-tree-top,
What is it you hear
That you try to say again
In your singing clear?
What is it you see up there
In the green and blue?
Does the world look very strange,—
Strange and fair to you?
Do you see some happy thing
That you try to show
In the eager chirps you toss
Gayly down below?
You are singing secrets, bird,
I am very sure.
I can understand no word,
But, oh, try once more!
Bird up in the pine-tree-top,
Sing again to me!
Maybe I can hear it now!
Maybe I can see!
The Day Before April
No, little brown bird, go away,
I have no time to dream to-day,
I must do certain things, you see.
I know not why, but it must be!
Here I must study foolish books,
And not guess how the lilac looks!
Hush, little bird, and do not sing!
I have no time to play with Spring!
The Corn
The corn's like soldiers in a row.
We'll stop and cheer them. Let's!
The tassels are their waving flags;
The leaves their bayonets.
They march to meet King Frost, their foe,
The fight will soon begin.
King Frost will conquer them, I know—
But oh, if they could win!