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| YE 1 birds that fly through the fields of air, | |
| What lessons of wisdom and truth ye bear! | |
| Ye would teach our souls from earth to rise, | |
| Ye would bid us its grovelling scenes despise— | |
| Ye would tell us that all its pursuits are vain, | 5 |
| That pleasure is toil—ambition is pain— | |
| That its bliss is touch’d with a poisoning leaven— | |
| Ye would teach us to fix our aim on heaven. | |
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| Beautiful birds of the azure wing, | |
| Bright creatures that come with the “voice of Spring,” | 10 |
| We see you array’d in the hues of the morn, | |
| Yet ye dream not of pride, and ye wist not of scorn. | |
| Though rainbow splendor around you glows, | |
| Ye vaunt not the beauty which nature bestows— | |
| Oh! what a lesson for glory are ye— | 15 |
| How ye preach of the grace of humility! | |
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| Swift birds that skim o’er the stormy deep, | |
| Who steadily onward your journey keep, | |
| Who neither for rest nor slumber stay, | |
| But press still forward by night and day— | 20 |
| And in your unwearying course yet fly | |
| Beneath the clear and the clouded sky, | |
| O! may we, without delay, like you, | |
| The path of duty and right pursue. | |
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| Sweet birds that breathe the spirit of song, | 25 |
| And surround heaven’s gate in melodious throng, | |
| Who rise with the earliest beams of day, | |
| Your morning tribute of thanks to pay— | |
| You remind us that we alike should raise | |
| The voice of devotion and song of praise. | 30 |
| There ’s something about you that points on high, | |
| Ye beautiful tenants of earth and sky! | |
