O bird with the mournful throat, Singing in sorrowful key, What grief does your song denote, Your desolate "De-ary me"? Where could you have learned your song, When all of the woodlands ring With carollings cheery and strong That dance and frolic and swing? Has any one done you harm? Do you fear a mysterious woe? What breezes have whispered alarm And left you sorrowing so? The woods are full of content, There's gladness in blossom and tree, And yours is the only lament, Your woebegone "De-ary me." Cheer up, you worrying bird! Be ashamed that a wingless man Should offer this heartening word To one of the feathered clan! Take note of your relative there, The phoebe happy and wise, Who sings the sprightliest air Beneath the gloomiest skies. And change your disconsolate tune As soon as you possibly can, For fear, some unfortunate June, It might be adopted -- by man! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I MAY, I MIGHT, I MUST by MARIANNE MOORE A TIME TO DANCE by CECIL DAY LEWIS WHAT THING A BIRD WOULD LOVE by ROBERT FROST THE SACRAL DREAMS OF RAMON FERNANDEZ by JAMES GALVIN A DIM DOORWAY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DIVIDE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TO MY CLASS: ON CERTAIN FRUITS AND FLOWERS SENT ... SICKNESS by SIDNEY LANIER |