TWO sparrows, votaries of Love, The Mars and Venus of the grove, Had been, for years, such constant mates, You would have sworn the very Fates Were impotent to break the bond That joined a pair so true and fond. Together still they sought their food; Together played in field or wood; Together built the cosey nest That served for shelter and for rest; Together fought the feathered foes With whom they came to words or blows; In fine, they lived, as lovers ought, Without a single selfish thought, Save such as might concern the twain, Their mutual joy or mutual pain. At last, one day, they chanced to get Their feet entangled in a net, (A vagrant boy had spread the snare To catch and keep the pretty pair!) And soon, despite their noisy rage, They both were prisoned in a cage; Where -- much I grieve the tale to tell -- A sorry scandal now befell: They scold, recriminate, and fight, Like arrant foes, from morn till night; Until, at length, the wretched birds In cruel acts and bitter words The very furies emulate, -- And all their love is turned to hate! L'ENVOI. Full many a couple come to strife And hatred in connubial life, Whose days of courtship promised fair As those of this unhappy pair; But, like the sparrows in my tale, When trouble comes, their tempers fail; They blame each other for the fate Which both should strive to mitigate; With patience helping to endure The ills that kindness fails to cure! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRECIOUS WORDS by EMILY DICKINSON THE CLIFF SWALLOWS by DEBRA NYSTROM DREAM-LOVE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE GYPSY by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS MY SOLITUDE by JAMES R. AGGELES PROLOGUE TO DRAMA ..... ANNIVERSARY OF CARRS' MARRIAGE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE HOUSE-WARMING; A LEGEND OF BLEEDING-HEART YARD by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |