| Samuel Kettell, ed. Specimens of American Poetry. 1829. | | | | To a Robin | | By William Cliffton (1772–1799) |
| | | FROM winter so dreary and long, | |
| Escaped, ah! how welcome the day, | |
| Sweet Bob with his innocent song, | |
| Is return’d to his favorite spray. | |
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| When the voice of the tempest was heard, | 5 |
| As o’er the bleak mountain it pass’d, | |
| He hied to the thicket, poor bird! | |
| And shrunk from the pitiless blast. | |
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| By the maid of the valley survey’d, | |
| Did she melt at thy comfortless lot? | 10 |
| Her hand, was it stretch’d to thy aid, | |
| As thou pick’dst at the door of her cot? | |
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| She did; and the wintery wind, | |
| May it howl not around her green grove; | |
| Be a bosom so gentle and kind, | 15 |
| Only fann’d by the breathings of love. | |
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| She did; and the kiss of her swain, | |
| With rapture, the deed shall requite, | |
| That gave to my window again | |
| Poor Bob and his song of delight. | 20 | | | |
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