The farm was lonely, set so far Back from the town; If neighbors came, he'd rant and rave If they sat down. And when they went he forced upon Her hateful thought, And nagged; made ugly use of words With meaning fraught. Her back was bent with work she'd done Beyond her strength; For he planned more than she could do In each day's length. The days seemed all alike to her Until, one day, She found a blue bird, maimed in wing, So bright and gay She loved it, cared for it, and soon The bird loved her; When he came, she would hide it and It would not stir. One noon he came and caught her with The bird in play; He killed it right before her in A fearful way. A neighbor came, to ask about A plough, that night; He never could forget that strange And awful sight. She'd used the kitchen knife on him And he was dead; She sat, a bruised and battered thing From feet to head, And hummed a little song, or spoke A tender word, @3And tried to make blue feathers stay Upon a bird!@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GO DOWN DEATH; A FUNERAL SERMON by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE BROOK: SUMMER by LAURA ABELL HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 41 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 31 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING FOREBEARANCE by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |