Like to a Songless Bird by Marie Van Vorst

Like to a songless bird that swings / On a high branch, and thrills to hear / How the deep-hearted forest rings / With melody enchanting clear,

And vainly swells his throat to wake / A song as pure as these that fill / The wood, and every echo shake, / Whilst he alone is dumb and still.

So, thrilling to the music dear / Since the first song woke, low and sweet; / To purest sound I bend my ear, / And with my heart the rhythms beat;

Until the palpitating Past / With melody becometh rife; / With parted lips and hands locked fast / I hear the songs of Love and Life.

And then I lift my voice to wake / A song as pure as these that thrill / Through Time. The vaults with music shake / And I alone am dumb and still.