THE greenhouse is my summer seat; My shrubs displaced from that retreat Enjoyed the open air; Two goldfinches, whose springtly song Had been their mutual solace long, Lived happy prisoners there. They sang as blithe as finches sing That flutter loose on golden wing, And frolic where they list; Strangers to liberty, 'tis true, But that delight they never knew, And therefore never missed. But nature works in every breast, With force not easily suppressed; And Dick felt some desires, That, after many an effort vain, Instructed him at length to gain A pass between his wires. The open windows seemed to invite The freeman to a farewell flight; But Tom was still confined; And Dick, although his way was clear, Was much too generous and sincere To leave his friend behind. So settling on his cage, by play, And chirp, and kiss, he seemed to say, "You must not live alone;"-- Nor would he quit that chosen stand Till I, with slow and cautious hand, Returned him to his own. O ye, who never taste the joys Of friendship, satisfied with noise, Fandango, ball, and rout! Blush when I tell you how a bird A prison with a friend preferred To liberty without. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SHEPHERD, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE TO THE REPUBLIC by JAMES GALVIN IN HOSPITAL: 4. BEFORE by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY SONG OF THE SILENT LAND by JOHANN GAUDENZ VON SALIS-SEEWIS THE VISION OF SIN by ALFRED TENNYSON CHORUS OF THE CLOUD-MAIDEN: ANTISTROPHE, FR. THE CLOUDS by ARISTOPHANES EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 42. AUGMENTED BY FAVOURABLE BLASTS by PHILIP AYRES THE ELDER'S WARNING; A LAY OF THE CONVOCATION by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN |