Obituary ~

And why did you die, little friend, little bird?
Did your heart truly burst with the joys you 
would sing? 

Were you flying too far and too fast little one 
So gracefully fleet and so bright on the wing?
(your breast, once so red is now dingy with clay
 your legs - ah, so tiny - are stiff as two sticks) 

The people will miss you each dawning of day 
A-carrolling well your sweet vocal tricks 
Your spirit went out at the coming of even'
Your singing no longer can echo our sky 
Oh, deeply I hope there are birdies in heaven 
(if not, I'll be lonely, in truth, when I die) 
And now you are soaring afar, little thing
And have passed from our ken to a different place
But there I'll expect to see your bright wing 
That you'll greet me anew with your rollicking
grace ...