Xi

What doth the blackbird in the boughs Sing all day to his nested spouse? What but the song of his old Mother-Earth, In her mighty humour of lust and mirth? 'Love and God's will go wing and wing, And as for death, is there any such thing?'-- In the shadow of death, So, at the beck of the wizard Spring The dear bird saith-- So the bird saith!

Caught with us all in the nets of fate, So the sweet wretch sings early and late; And, O my fairest, after all, The heart of the World's in his innocent call. The will of the World's with him wing and wing:-- 'Life--life--life! 'Tis the sole great thing This side of death, Heart on heart in the wonder of Spring!' So the bird saith-- The wise bird saith!