The Mocking Bird - An 1843 Poem
Counter-Hopper.
- When joyous spring-time glads the earth;
- When op'ning buds burst wide their sheaves;
- When evergreens first fill the hearth;
- When frosts and freezes take their leaves,
- The Mocking Bird, in joyous glee,
- Essays the song
- That will, ere long,
- Fill field and groves with melody.
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- When round the porch the woodbines twine;
- When honeysuckles feast the eyes;
- When leafy bowers clothe the vine;
- Just as the sun begins to rise.
- The Mock-bird's mellow mating notes,
- Leading the choir
- Of bush and briar,
- In richest cadence round him floats.
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- When summer's sun retires to rest,
- In azure cloud-couch fringed with gold;
- When cooling breezes from the West,
- Come laden with perfumes untold,
- There's nothing sweet, or rich, or pure
- The zephyr brings
- Upon its wings,
- More welcome than his overture.
-
- Nor ceases with the close of day,
- The feathered songster's vesper hymn;
- At night he seeks some sheltered spray,
- Near man a friendly roosting limb,
- And ever and anon again
- Warbles a stave
- Each windy wave
- Aeolian-harp-like wakes a strain.
February 22, 1843. Edgefield Advertiser 8(4): 1. From the South Carolinian. Poetic Recess feature.