Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/19



THE DAWN

"Start-right, you-hob-bright!" 'Twas fluted so clear, It wakened the songsters and startled my ear,

As the King of the morning repelled the dark night, And the reveille sounded, "All-right! Bob-Bob-White!"

The Mocking-bird earliest answered the call, And gladly his echoes were welcomed by all,

As each took his place in the Nature-trained choir, And bird after bird began tuning his lyre.

The songsters had started a sweet roundelay, When suddenly up bounced a meddlesome Jay.

He wanted to sing, This feathered thing; Or brilliant colors to impress, With spontaneous wantonness; With spirit too to over-rule, Like the self-important fashion fool.

In soft monotone crooned the Black-billed Cuckoo, "Tho not much at singing, I'll surely beat you."

And Flicker to Jay proclaimed, "No-cheer from me, no-cheer!" While the Hooded Warbler, "You-have-no-business-here"!

"I'm a blooming Jay,   I'll have my way,    Dj-a-y! dj-a-y! dj-a-y!"

Then spoke that brave bird, the yellow-breast Chat: "Cop! Cop! Shut-him-in-prison-and-send-for-the-cat."

Cat Bird. Photo by the Author.

And King bird commanded with spirit irate, "Away with you, Blue Jay—or I'll pounce on your pate."

And the Jay slipped away, With a sure word of peace, For such glad release: "Ge-rul-lup!                 Jig's-all-up!"