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Poem
October 9, 1844
The Guard
Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi
What is this article about?
A lyrical farewell to a beloved bird as autumn fades into winter, expressing sorrow at its departure to warmer climes but anticipation of its return in spring, using the bird as a metaphor for fleeting beauty and companionship.
Merged-components note: Merged stanzas of the poem 'My Bird' into a single component.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
For the Guard.
MY BIRD.
Gentle birdie, stay thy winging,
Bend thy lightsome pinion near;
'Mid autumn's wail thy wild notes ringing,
Sadly sweet once more I'd hear.
They tell me birdie, when the flower
Lies crushed beneath old winter's tread
When leafy dell and sunny hour
At his withering touch hath fled--
They say the minstrel bird that gladdened
That leafy dell and sunny hour:
Goes too when all things else are saddened,
To warble in a brighter bower,
Wilt thou when all things fair are fading,
The beautiful, the loved, the true;
When winter clouds bright thoughts are shading,
Say, birdie, wilt thou leave me too?
Yet go-I would not here detain thee
To breast the cold, bleak wintry storm;
To lose my birdie, tho' it pain me-
Yet go and shield thy fragile form.
Away! to summer climes then speed thee,
Thy note will glad the stranger's ear,
But oh, sweet bird! they will not feed thee,
Nor love thee as thy lone friend here.
Yet still in fancy's bower I'll hear thee,
Tho' winter winds blow loud and chill,
Amid their wail thou wilt be near me,
Thy music floating round me still.
Go-but the first bright dew drop glancing,
On the virgin cheek of spring-
Sunny rays 'mid flowers dancing
Will my birdie homeward bring.
ESTELLE.
MY BIRD.
Gentle birdie, stay thy winging,
Bend thy lightsome pinion near;
'Mid autumn's wail thy wild notes ringing,
Sadly sweet once more I'd hear.
They tell me birdie, when the flower
Lies crushed beneath old winter's tread
When leafy dell and sunny hour
At his withering touch hath fled--
They say the minstrel bird that gladdened
That leafy dell and sunny hour:
Goes too when all things else are saddened,
To warble in a brighter bower,
Wilt thou when all things fair are fading,
The beautiful, the loved, the true;
When winter clouds bright thoughts are shading,
Say, birdie, wilt thou leave me too?
Yet go-I would not here detain thee
To breast the cold, bleak wintry storm;
To lose my birdie, tho' it pain me-
Yet go and shield thy fragile form.
Away! to summer climes then speed thee,
Thy note will glad the stranger's ear,
But oh, sweet bird! they will not feed thee,
Nor love thee as thy lone friend here.
Yet still in fancy's bower I'll hear thee,
Tho' winter winds blow loud and chill,
Amid their wail thou wilt be near me,
Thy music floating round me still.
Go-but the first bright dew drop glancing,
On the virgin cheek of spring-
Sunny rays 'mid flowers dancing
Will my birdie homeward bring.
ESTELLE.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
Friendship
What keywords are associated?
Bird Farewell
Autumn Winter
Seasonal Departure
Companion Affection
Spring Return
What entities or persons were involved?
Estelle.
Poem Details
Title
My Bird.
Author
Estelle.
Key Lines
Gentle Birdie, Stay Thy Winging,
Bend Thy Lightsome Pinion Near;
Wilt Thou When All Things Fair Are Fading,
The Beautiful, The Loved, The True;
Yet Go I Would Not Here Detain Thee
To Breast The Cold, Bleak Wintry Storm;
Go But The First Bright Dew Drop Glancing,
On The Virgin Cheek Of Spring