ROBIN REDBREAST.

 

 

 

GOOD-BYE, good-bye to summer!

For summer's nearly done;

The garden smiling faintly,

Cool breezes in the sun;

Our thrushes now are silent,

Our swallows flown away,—

But robin's here in coat of brown,

And scarlet breast-knot gay.

Robin, robin red-breast,

O robin dear!

Robin sings so sweetly

In the falling of the year.

Bright yellow, red, and orange,

The leaves come down in hosts;

The trees are Indian princes,

But soon they‘ll turn to ghosts;

The leathery pears and apples

Hang russet on the bough;

It's autumn, autumn, autumn late,

'T will soon be winter now.

Robin, robin redbreast,

O robin dear!

And what will this poor robin do?

For pinching days are near.

The fireside for the cricket,

The wheat-stack for the mouse,

When trembling night-winds whistle

And moan all round the house.

The frosty ways like iron,

The branches plumed with snow—

Alas! In winter dead and dark,

Where can poor robin go?

Robin, robin redbreast,

O robin dear!

And a crumb of bread for robin,

His little heart to cheer.

 

 

 

William Allingham.