• Ended, ere it begun —

    The Title was scarcely told

    When the Preface perished from Consciousness

    The Story, unrevealed —


    Had it been mine, to print!

    Had it been yours, to read!

    That it was not Our privilege

    The interdict of God —

  • The Birds begun at Four o'clock —

    Their period for Dawn —

    A Music numerous as space —

    But neighboring as Noon —


    I could not count their Force —

    Their Voices did expend

    As Brook by Brook bestows itself

    To multiply the Pond.


    Their Witnesses were not —

    Except...