Classic Poem

I. Bird OF THE M OUNTAIN .

Bird of the mountain, sweetly thou singest, —
O, sweet thy song!
Over the fountain, high in the branches,
Thou sitt'st alone.
There oft, at evening, I linger to hear thee:
Bird of the mountain, sweetly thou singest, —
O, sweet thy song!

Bird of the mountain, why art thou ever
So sad and lone?
Only I hear thee breaking the silence
So deep around.
Art thou the spirit of heart-broken maiden?
Bird of the mountain, why art thou ever
So sad and lone?

II. T HE Bird THAT HAS LOST ITS Y OUNG .

Why so sadly sing'st thou?
Hast thou lost thy loved one?
Why art thou so lonely,
'Mid the woods afar?
" They have stolen all my young ones, —
That is why so sad my song! "
Cease thy song of sorrow!
Spring is all around thee, —
Other loves may bless thee, —
Break not so thy heart!
" They have stolen all my loved ones, —
Other loves I cannot know! "

III. D USHKA .

I.

Dushka, fairest of maidens!
Long have I sought for thy love.
Long have I courted thee;
Long have I lingered;
Yet not a smile have I won.
Still thou art dear to me, —
Ever art dear to me;
Ever till death I am thine.
Dushka, fairest of maidens!
Give me, O, give me thy love!

Dushka, fairest of maidens!
Turn not so coldly away.
Thou wilt remember me,
When they have left thee,
When all the faithless are gone.
Then thou wilt think of me,
Fondly wilt think of me,
Know I am faithful and true.
Dushka, fairest of maidens!
Yield me, O, yield me thy heart!

II.

Dushka, fairest [dearest] maiden!
Thou art still my only love.
When the early blossom
Of thy beauty fades,
Thou wilt find me ever true.
Other youths may leave thee
When thy roses wither;
Still my heart is ever thine.
Dushka, fairest [dearest] maiden!
Thou art still my only love.

Dushka, fairest [dearest] maiden!
Thou wilt ever be my love.
Not, like bird of summer,
Do I flit away;
Even in winter I remain.
I will never leave thee,
Though the storm be rising;
Then I 'll press thee to my heart.
Dushka, fairest [dearest] maiden!
Thou wilt ever be my love.