I SAW a bird alone, In its nest it sat alone, For its mate was dead or flown Though it was early Spring. Hard by were buds half-blown. With cornfields freshlv sown: It could only perch and moan That used to sing: Droop in sorrow left alone: A sad sad thing. I saw a star alone, In blue heaven it hung alone^ A solitary throne In the waste of space: Where no moon-glories are, Where not a second star Beams through night from near or far To that lone place. Its beauties all unknown, Its glories all alone, Sad in heaven's face. Doth the bird desire a mate, Pine for a second mate. Whose first joy was so great With its own dove? Doth the star supreme in night Desire a second light To make it seem less bright In the shrine of heavenly height That is above? ''" Ah better wait alone. In nest or heaven alone. Forsaken or unknown: Till, time being past and gone. Full eternity rolls on, While patience reaps what it has sown In the harvest-land of love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE CHILD by HAYDEN CARRUTH LETHE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE COLOR SERGEANT by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON |