A Lark's Song

By Margaret Fairless Barber

Sweet, sweet!

I rise to greet

The sapphire sky

The air slips by

On either side

As up I ride

On mounting wing,

And sing and sing -

Then reach my bliss,

The sun's great kiss;

And poise a space

To see his face,

Sweet, sweet,

In radiant grace,

Ah, sweet! ah, sweet!

Sweet, sweet!

Beneath my feet

My nestlings call:

And down I fall

Unerring, true,

Through heaven's blue;

And haste to fill

Each noisy bill.

My brooding breast

Stills their unrest.

Sweet, sweet,

Their quick hearts beat,

Safe in the nest:

Ah, sweet, sweet, sweet!

Ah, sweet!

Sweet, sweet

The calling sky

That bids me fly

Up — up — on high.

Sweet, sweet

The claiming earth;

It holds my nest

And draws me down

To where Love's crown

Of priceless worth

Awaits my breast.

Sweet, sweet!

Ah, this is best

And this most meet,

Sweet, sweet! ah, sweet!