Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By MauriceThompson

935 An Early Bluebird

LEAP to the highest height of spring,

And trill thy sweetest note,

Bird of the heavenly plumes and twinkling wing

And silver-tonëd throat!

Sing, while the maple’s deepest root

Thrills with a pulse of fire

That lights its buds. Blow, blow thy tender flute,

Thy reed of rich desire!

Breathe in thy syrinx Freedom’s breath,

Quaver the fresh and true,

Dispel this lingering wintry mist of death

And charm the world anew!

Thou first sky-dipped spring-bud of song,

Whose heavenly ecstasy

Foretells the May while yet March winds are strong,

Fresh faith appears with thee!

How sweet, how magically rich,

Through filmy splendor blown,

Thy hopeful voice set to the promise-pitch

Of melody yet unknown!

O land of mine (where hope can grow

And send a deeper root

With every spring), hear, heed the free bird blow

Hope’s charmëd flute!

Ah! who will hear, and who will care,

And who will heed thy song,

As prophecy, as hope, as promise rare,

Budding to bloom ere long?

From swelling bulbs and sprouting seed,

Sweet sap and fragrant dew,

And human hearts, grown doubly warm at need,

Leaps answer strong and true:

We see, we hear (thou liberty-loving thing,

That down spring winds doth float),

The promise of thine empyrean wing,

The hope that floods thy throat!