Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MAKING OF BIRDS, by KATHARINE TYNAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MAKING OF BIRDS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: God made him birds in a pleasant humour
Last Line: Bade them soar and sing for his joy.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan
Subject(s): Birds; Creation; God; Praise; Singing & Singers


GOD made Him birds in a pleasant humour;
Tired of planets and suns was He.
He said: I will add a glory to Summer,
Gifts for my creature banished from Me!

He had a thought and it set Him smiling
Of the shape of a bird and its glancing head,
Its dainty air and its grace beguiling:
"I will make feathers," the Lord God said.

He made the robin; He made the swallow;
His deft hands moulding the shape to His mood,
The thrush and lark and the finch to follow,
And laughed to see that His work was good.

He who has given men gift of laughter—
Made in His image; He fashioned fit
The blink of the owl and the stork thereafter,
The little wren and the long-tailed tit.

He spent in the making His wit and fancies;
The wing-feathers He fashioned them strong;
Deft and dear as daisies and pansies,
He crowned His work with the gift of song.

Dearlings, He said, make songs for My praises!
He tossed them loose to the sun and wind,
Airily sweet as pansies and daisies;
He taught them to build a nest to their mind.

The dear Lord God of His glories weary—
Christ our Lord had the heart of a boy—
Made Him birds in a moment merry,
Bade them soar and sing for His joy.





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