Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature: An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891. Vols. VIVIII: Literature of the Republic, Part III., 18351860 | | The Brown Thrush | By William Davis Gallagher (18081894) |
| [From Miami Woods,
and Other Poems. 1881.] |
| 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 hearts libations, | 5 |
Poured daily to the Giver of all good! | |
How like our love and simple ministrations | |
At Gods green altars in the deep and hallowed wood. | |
|
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. | |
|
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. | | |
|
|
|