The espalier | Project Gutenberg

THE MAID’S TRAGEDY

I kept two singing birds

In a cage of bone—

Hatched-out on the same day;

But since one flew away,

T’other’s alone.

I spoke him gentle words

And bade him sing.

But he hung down his head

As if discomforted,

And drooped his wing.

My mood was turned to rage;

I stinted his seed,

Opened the cage-door wide—

Starve, or begone! I cried.

He did not heed.

Silent within his cage

I see him mope

Like any turtle-dove.

The dumb bird I called Love,

The flown bird, Hope.