THE BLUEBIRD'S WING

One day I saw the bluebird's wing

Agleam upon a waving sea

Of emerald-coloured timothy.

We walked together — you and I —

We saw the bluebird gliding by;

He came so near — the mad, wild thing —

We almost touched his sapphire wing,

But ere across our path he flew

He rose and vanished in the blue.

To-day I saw the bluebird's wing;

I heard wood-thrushes round me sing;

Wind-blown across the April sky,

Great swelling cloud-sails drifted by;

And on the sky-line's silver sheen

White birches danced in frills of green,

And all the world was mad with spring.

But you were miles and miles away;

The bluebird's wing was dull and gray.