Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
VI. Animate NatureThe Mocking-Bird
Frank Lebby Stanton (18571927)H
When first he come along;
An’ all the birds went wonderin’
Why he did n’t sing a song.
An’ sung their sweetest notes;
An’ music jest come on the run
From all their purty throats!
In summer time an’ fall;
He jest set still an’ listened,
An’ he would n’t sing at all!
Was tired out an’ still,
An’ the wind sighed down the valley
An’ went creepin’ up the hill;
In the dreamin’ fields o’ blue,
An’ the daisy in the darkness
Felt the fallin’ o’ the dew,—
No mortal ever heard,
An’ all the birds seemed singin’
From the throat o’ one sweet bird!
In a land too fur to call;
Fer there warn’t no use in stayin’
When one bird could sing fer all!