Page:The Garden of Years.djvu/50



Rereading these, I mind me well what night

Saw each first flutter to my eager hand,

How to my heart I held the wanderer tight,

Smoothed its soft wings, all ruffled by the flight,

And strove each timid note to understand.

sweet unconscious breeder of the band,

Let others say my thoughts are all my own!

I know them nestlings of my native land,

Whose songs were taught by you and you alone:—

All I can do is note the strains aright.

I love them all so well that I would fain

Believe you held their songs as dear as I,

That on your memory may perchance have lain

Some one or two of all the rhythmic train

That you inspired, and I taught how to fly.

Could I but know that some so softly lie

In that most silken nest, I were content!

Ah, tell me some sang true in brushing by

The only ear for which their songs were meant,

And made the meaning of my message plain.