Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/64

 I began to weep, in my heart quite deep, When the babes kept up their cry; I ran up the steep like a deer in a leap, For the best bird food supply.

They reached and they tried; they ate and they cried, Till the four had eaten their fill; The mother aside still motherhood belied, And the heart in me struggled still.

I learned in my youth, an old, new truth; 'Mongst men and beasts and birds, Some grow uncouth, nor ever show ruth; And for fools waste not your words.

Filled oft to the beak, as the days made a week, The fledglings and I were friends, And over the creek the folk came to speak Of their beauty, their cuteness and ends.

And all the hearts right grew more tender and bright, As the Tanagers grew a-pace; And those of insight, said, "The birds have a right To partake of our friendly grace."

THE RHYTHM UNIVERSAL

Give me thy music, O most musical One, The rhythm that rolls from yonder cycling sun; Yea more, as heart and soul of all that's good, Thy nature gave in vaster plenitude; Nor time will ever be when thy glad stars Will cease to sing as one in rhythmic bars; Nor conscious sons of God go shouting joy; Nor woodland birds of song their loved employ.

It's in the very heart of things; It's in our bounds and sweeps and swings; It's in the tree and rose that springs— All Nature singsandsings.

The heart of man, his coursing blood through veins; The very breath of life, his thoughts and reins; His dreams, devotions, deeds, his all, O soul, Or great or small beneath divine control.

The gracious seasons roll in mighty numbers; The snow, the sleet but falls, that He who slumbers Not may again awake the earth to life And stay, for man and all, the winter's strife.