Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By John WhiteChadwick769 The Golden-Robins Nest
T
High in the elm-tree’s ever-nodding crest;
All the long day, upon his task intent,
Backward and forward busily he went,
That birdies weave for little birdies’ beds;
Now bits of grass, now bits of vagrant string,
And now some queerer, dearer sort of thing.
In search of stuff to build his pretty home,
We dropped one day a lock of golden hair
Which our wee darling easily could spare;
A lock that had the stooping shoulders graced
Of her old grandsire; it was white as snow,
Or cherry-trees when they are all ablow.
Hundreds of times he sought the lucky place
Where sure, he thought, in his bird-fashion dim,
Wondrous provision had been made for him.
The nest was finished, and the brood was reared;
And then there came a pleasant summer’s day
When the last golden-robin flew away.
We bore the nest so wonderfully dight,
And saw how prettily the white and gold
Made warp and woof of many a gleaming fold.
Cleaving the orchards with their breasts aflame,
Grandsire’s white locks and baby’s golden head
Were lying low, both in one grassy bed.
Ta’en from the elm-tree’s ever nodding crest.
Little the golden-robin thought how rare
A thing he wrought of white and golden hair!