Poems (Brown)/The Captive Bird's Lament

by Carrie L. Brown

THE CAPTIVE BIRD'S LAMENT. 

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"What aileth birdie mine?
 Why droop his head?
Why flutter in his cage?
 Why gaze with dread
In this fair face of mine?
 Tell me, birdie dear.
There is water in your cup,
 Sparkling ever clear.
There are seeds so fresh and white;
 Taste them—they are sweet;
Yet you flutter nervously,
 And 'gainst your wires beat.
What aileth birdie mine?
 Why still thy note?
Why is thy breast so ruffled?
 Why heaves thy throat?"

"Mistress dear, mistress dear,
 Sad is my heart,
And every sudden noise I hear
 Causes me to start.
The woods look green and fair,
 Mistress dear, to me,
And upon the boughs so tall
 Many birds I see."

"Birdie mine, birdie mine,
 Why breathe this lay?
'Tis too sad to please my heart:
 Be happy while you may.
Utter then a joyous tone,
 Birdie dear, birdie dear,
And I'll lave your golden head.
 With the water clear.
Envy you the wild-wood songsters,
 Singing in the dell?
Answer, birdie; answer, dear,
 And thy sorrows tell."

"O mistress dear, my heart is sad,
 My bosom wildly beats;
But as I pine, one song I'll sing;
 'Tis, Liberty is sweet."

"Liberty! O birdie mine,
 You've a gilded home;
And with cherries, ripe and red,
 Every morn I come.
Would you wish to leave me now.
 Here alone to weep,
While you wing among the trees,
 And bathe in water sweet?
O birdie, cease complaining;
 Lift your golden breast,
And come and look so lovingly
 From out your little nest.
What! still you droop your head,
 Still you breathe your moan?
O birdie dear, sing merrily,
 In gayer, happier tone."

"Mistress dear, mistress dear,
 Still my heartstrings beat;
But though dying, still I'll sing
 O, Liberty is sweet."

"Birdie dear, cease complaining;
 Look! I open wide your door!
Hasten, birdie, to the green wood,
 High upon the tree-tops soar.
Hasten, birdie, cease your moaning,
 Sing in gladsome, joyful song;
Hasten, birdie, to the wild-wood,
 For the day is almost done."

"Mistress dear, I'll ever love you;
 And, in summer's golden day,
At your window I'll come tapping.
 Pouring out a joyful lay.
Mistress, dear one, I am going;
 Soon I'll come again to you;
But now I go to yonder woodlands;
 Mistress dear, adieu, adieu."