Poems (Linn)/Carrier Pigeon
CARRIER PIGEON.
MY pigeon's wings are strong to moveIn services of war or love.See how she beats her prison bars,Longing to fly into the sky;Blame not my bird but see her pine;Not hers the fault, but it is mine.She waits to use the powers God gave,She longs to sail the airy waveOf the blue ether; speak no blaming word;Pity the restless captive bird.
O Thou, who gavest the pigeon sightTo guide her on her fearless flight,And long, strong wings to bear her far;Thou knowest why she does not fly?Thou who gavest the soul desireTo mount to Thee, and to aspireUnto the best, seest Thou the handThat binds? Or is it Thy commandThat placed these bars, where, like poor captive things,We beat our strong, God-given wings?