THE RED BIRD

Animated, flashing, flame of scarlet,

Teasing, tantalizing, madcap varlet,

Glooming, glinting through the boughs,

Making, breaking lover's vows;

Dashing leader of the choir,

Standing on the topmost spire,

Scintillating song and fire,

Calls me: Come up — come up — higher, higher, higher!

Daytime meteor trailing light,

Like a shooting star at night —

Just a moment of delight,

Followed by a mad desire:

But the flaming flash of scarlet,

Tantalizing madcap varlet,

Hiding from my aching sight —

This time just a little nigher —

Laughing from his leafy height,

Mocks me: Come up — come up — higher, higher, higher!