And dared to lift his voice in praise

Of humblest wight in highlands wild.

Poor, wretched man by sin defiled,

He sang in sympathetic lays—

His heart was pure.

The blithe cuckoo and daisy mild,

The daffodils, like elfin fays,

The mystery of sunset haze

O'er barren moors, his pen beguiled—

His heart was pure.

[Pg 53]

[Pg 53]

THE RED BIRD

Animated, flashing, flame of scarlet,

Teasing, tantalizing, madcap varlet,

Glooming, glinting through the boughs,

Making, breaking lover's vows;

Dashing leader of the choir,

Standing on the topmost spire,

Scintillating song and fire,

 Prev. P 43/99 next