Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BIRD ON THE TELEGRAPH WIRE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BIRD ON THE TELEGRAPH WIRE, by                    
First Line: The long lines stretched from west to east
Last Line: "he teaches us, trusting, to say, ""it is best."
Subject(s): Birds


THE long lines stretched from west to east,
The bird was a dot 'gainst the wide blue sky,
And I, full of summer gladness and joy,
Wrote of the bird as he swung on high.

So free from all care and sorrow and toil!
So fearless 'mid music of countless spheres!
So true to its instincts, though under its feet
Passed "the news of the world" and the labor of years!

He trilled a song to his patient mate;
Not a note was made less loud and sweet
By a thought of the wounded and dying men,
Though the news of the battle passed under his feet.

He sang of his birdies -- one, two, three,
Of his nest in the apple-tree over the way,
While the wires were bearing the death of a prince, --
How a kingdom's throne was empty that day.

A lovely sight, with his breast of gold,
His glossy wings and beaded eyes;
One of life's beautiful things, I thought,
O'erlying its deeper mysteries.

Little cared he for battles or thrones,
While the air was so soft and the sun so bright;
His nestful and mate were enough for him,
And he taught me a lesson, -- to trust in God's might.

On the earth which sages and martyrs have trod
He teaches us how to build our nest;
Through trials, temptations, and mysteries strange,
He teaches us, trusting, to say, "It is best."





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