Classic Poem

STATIO SECUNDA

Just listen to the blackbird — what a note
The creature has! God bless his happy throat!
He is so absolutely glad
I fear he will go mad.
Look here! this very grit
I crush beneath my boot
His little foot
Trod crisp that day —
That's it! that's it!
O, what is there to say?
The little foot so warm and pink!
O, what is there to think?
His mother kissed it every night
When she put out the light —
And where?
What is it now? a fascicle
Of crumbling bones
Jammed in with earth and stones.
You say that this is old,
A tale twice-told —
Say what you will:
Old, new, I swear
That it is horrible —
Horrible, blackbird, howsoe'er
The Spring rejoice you with its budding bloom —
Yes, horrible, most horrible!
Though you should carol to the crack of doom,
Poor blackbird! being so absolutely glad —
I hope he won't go mad.