When to the birds their morning meal I threw, Beside one perky candidate for bread There flash'd and wink'd a tiny drop of dew, But while I gaz'd, I lost them, both had fled; His careless tread had struck the blade-hung tear, And all its silent beauty fell away; And left, sole relic of the twinkling sphere, A sparrow's dabbled foot upon a spray; Bold bird! that didst efface a lovely thing Before a poet's eyes! I've half a mind, Could I but single thee from out thy kind, To mulct thee in a crumb; a crumb to thee Is not more sweet than that fair drop to me; Fie on thy little foot and thrumming wing! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: EUGENE CARMAN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS QUATORZAINS: 5. TO NIGHT by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES COLUMBUS [AUGUST 3, 1492] by JOHANN CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER JOHN CHARLES FREMONT by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE VILLAGE MUNITIONS CO., INC.; FORMERLY THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS SONG, FR. ARTAXERXES (OPERA) by THOMAS AUGUSTINE ARNE SOLILOQUIES OF A SMALL-TOWN TAXI-DRIVER: ON THE EMOTIONS by EDGAR BARRATT |