To the Oriole

Lightly swinging, sweetly singing,

    In the budding trees;

Rapturous song is borne along

    On the scented breeze.

Golden throated, joyous noted,

    In the bright spring days;

Happy creature! What a teacher

    Of the art of praise!

With thy trilling thou art filling

    All the balmy air;

Thine is pleasure without measure,

    Song is everywhere.

Cease your singing, cease your swinging,

    Fly unto your nest.

Shades are falling, night is calling

    Nature to its rest.

Herbert Salisbury Hopkins

Index to poems in the collection by Herbert Salisbury Hopkins