Classic Poem

A NURSLING of the under-green,
A tethered wing I poised between
A heaven above and heaven below —
Twin Sisters, mirrored in the glow
Of limpid waters — where the breeze,
Blind comrade of the listening trees,
Came wakening with soft caress
The shadows dumb and motionless.

There once, at summer's close, a flame
Of fire and song, a Redbird came,
And, perched upon my parent limb,
Outpoured his soul. From joy abrim,
The bubbling vintage of his brain,
I quaffed, the while each fibre-vein,
Deep-reddening with emotion, stirred,
Alas! he heeded not nor heard!
But when he ceased, and flew away,
A panting prisoner I lay,
Close-fettered, till the kindred fire
Of frost lit up the autumn pyre:
Then, suddenly, the tidal swell
Of sap receded, and I fell.