BETWEEN the berried holly-bush The Blackbird whistled to the Thrush: 'Which way did bright-eyed Bella go? Look, Speckle-breast, across the snow, -- Are those her dainty tracks I see, That wind beside the shrubbery?' The Throstle pecked the berries still. 'No need for looking, Yellow-bill; Young Frank was there an hour ago, Half frozen, waiting in the snow; His callow beard was white with rime, -- 'Tchuck, -- 'tis a merry pairing-time!' 'What would you?' twittered in the Wren; 'These are the reckless ways of men. I watched them bill and coo as though They thought the sign of Spring was snow; If men but timed their loves as we, 'Twould save this inconsistency.' 'Nay, Gossip,' chirped the Robin, 'nay; I like their unreflective way. Besides, I heard enough to show Their love is proof against the snow: -- "Why wait," he said, "why wait for May, When love can warm a winter's day?"' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LATE SINGER by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THE SUPPLIANT by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE THE CONTRETEMPS by THOMAS HARDY THE WANDER-LOVERS by RICHARD HOVEY FOUR SONNETS: 1 by FRANK DAVIS ASHBURN GRIEF WAS SENT THEE FOR THY GOOD by THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY |