Poems (Sharpless)/An Appeal
For works with similar titles, see An Appeal.
AN APPEAL
Oh! the innocent, happy life! Embowered in blossoming apple trees!Singing to cheer the small brown wife Rocked in her nest by each merry breeze.
The grateful hymn at the dawn of day, The busy hurry thro' buoyant air,Where toil is pleasure, and business play, And singing the while—singing everywhere.
A shot, and the joyous life is o'er; A fluttering rag of feathers and bloodIs dashed to the earth; no singing more; One bird less for orchard and wood.
Only a little, blithe singing bird! One! nay, millions! but what of that?When Autocrat Fashion has spoken her word; She must have their plumes for her winter hat.
Could the sobbing voices swell to a shriek From forest and meadow and wild seashore,Could their pitiful, helpless anguish speak, Oh, who would covet their plumage more?
Sweet maiden, fair, with the tender eyes, Your gentle spirit would surely shrinkFrom the hat where a murdered songster lies In a mute reproach, if you would but think.
Let flowers and lustrous ribbons give Enough of beauty and color glows;But these lovely songsters, oh! let them live And spare their pangs from earth's sum of woe.