Poems (Hoffman)/Bird Songs

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BIRD SONGS
The birds are happy, singing all day through Their little psalms of praise,And just because the sky is clear and blue,The grasses green, the trees in leafage new;Awake my heart, and be thou happy too, These sunny days.
Sing, as the birds sing, just for love Of God and song;Make for His temple every leafy groveThat rears its frescoed canopy above.Thy strength, thy freedom and thy gladness prove O'er gloom and wrong.
One little songster taught to me his lay It was so sweet,These were the warbled words he seemed to say:"Earth is so joyous that I long to stay,Heaven is so glorious, I would fly away." Still doth his song repeat.
Dreading to live, yet fearing more to die, Take thy distressTo where the birds through field and forest fly,Trilling their thankfulness to earth and sky,And without gold, or lands or honor, buy Such songs as this.
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The birds are singing, not for gold or fame Their songs may bring.O, what care they for words of slight or blame,For breathless listeners, or honored name!To empty aisles they carol just the same Because they love to sing.
The birds are happy, 'till their joy o'erflows In minstrelsy;No wealth for them in glittering treasure glows.Awake, my heart, and know what nature knowsThe ecstasy of life that is and was And evermore shall be.
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