Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. VI–VIII: Literature of the Republic, Part III., 1835–1860 | | | | The Brown Thrush | | By William Davis Gallagher (1808–1894) |
| | [From Miami Woods,… and Other Poems. 1881.] |
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BROWN-BREASTED bird that in the dim old forest, | |
| Which stands far spreading in my own loved West, | |
| At dewy eve and purple morn outpourest | |
| The sweet, wild melodies that thrill my breast, | |
| How like to thine were my young heart’s libations, | 5 |
| Poured daily to the Giver of all good! | |
| How like our love and simple ministrations | |
| At God’s green altars in the deep and hallowed wood. | |
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| We trilled our morn and evening songs together, | |
| And twittered ’neath green leaves at sultry noon; | 10 |
| We kept like silence in ungenial weather, | |
| And never knew blue skies come back too soon; | |
| We sang not for the world, we sang not even | |
| For those we loved; we could not help but sing, | |
| There was such beauty in the earth and heaven, | 15 |
| Such music in our hearts, such joy in everything. | |
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| Wild warblers of the wood, I hear them only | |
| At intervals of weary seasons now; | |
| Yet, while through dusty streets I hasten, lonely, | |
| And sad at heart, with cares upon my brow, | 20 |
| There comes from out the green aisles of the forest | |
| A gushing melody of other days— | |
| And I again am with thee where thou pourest | |
| In gladness unto God, the measure of thy praise. | | | |
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