THE DAWN
"Start-right, you-hob-bright!" 'Twas fluted so clear,
It wakened the songsters and startled my ear,
As the King of the morning repelled the dark night,
And the reveille sounded, "All-right! Bob-Bob-White!"
The Mocking-bird earliest answered the call,
And gladly his echoes were welcomed by all,
As each took his place in the Nature-trained choir,
And bird after bird began tuning his lyre.
The songsters had started a sweet roundelay,
When suddenly up bounced a meddlesome Jay.
He wanted to sing,
This feathered thing;
Or brilliant colors to impress,
With spontaneous wantonness;
With spirit too to over-rule,
Like the self-important fashion fool.
In soft monotone crooned the Black-billed Cuckoo,
"Tho not much at singing, I'll surely beat you."
And Flicker to Jay proclaimed,
"No-cheer from me, no-cheer!"
While the Hooded Warbler, "You-have-no-business-here"!
"I'm a blooming Jay,
I'll have my way,
Dj-a-y! dj-a-y! dj-a-y!"
Then spoke that brave bird, the yellow-breast Chat:
"Cop! Cop! Shut-him-in-prison-and-send-for-the-cat."
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Cat Bird. Photo by the Author.
And King bird commanded with spirit irate,
"Away with you, Blue Jay—or I'll pounce on your pate."
And the Jay slipped away,
With a sure word of peace,
For such glad release:
"Ge-rul-lup!
Jig's-all-up!"
