2. Nest Eggs. Stevenson, Robert Louis. 1913. A Child’s Garden of Verses and Underwoods

Stevenson, Robert Louis (1850–1894). A Child’s Garden of Verses and Underwoods. 1913.

2. Nest Eggs

BIRDS all the sunny day
Flutter and quarrel
Here in the arbour-like
Tent of the laurel.

Here in the fork	5
The brown nest is seated;
Four little blue eggs
The mother keeps heated.

While we stand watching her,
Staring like gabies,	10
Safe in each egg are the
Bird’s little babies.

Soon the frail eggs they shall
Chip, and upspringing
Make all the April woods	15
Merry with singing.

Younger than we are,
O children, and frailer,
Soon in blue air they’ll be,
Singer and sailor.	20

We, so much older,
Taller and stronger,
We shall look down on the
Birdies no longer.

They shall go flying	25
With musical speeches
High overhead in the
Tops of the beeches.

In spite of our wisdom
And sensible talking,	30
We on our feet must go
Plodding and walking.