Statio Secunda

Just listen to the blackbird, what a note     The creature has! God bless his happy throat!     He is so absolutely glad     I fear he will go mad.     Look here! this very grit     I crush beneath my boot     His little foot     Trod crisp that day, Thats it! thats it     O, what is there to say?     The little foot so warm and pink!     O, what is there to think?     His mother kissed it every night     When she put out the light, And where?     What is it now? a fascicle     Of crumbling bones     J ammed in with earth and stones.     You say that this is old,     A tale twice-told, Say what you will:     Old, new, I swear     That it is horrible,     Horrible, blackbird, howsoeer     The Spring rejoice you with its budding bloom,     Yes, horrible, most horrible!     Though you should carol to the crack of doom,     Poor blackbird! being so absolutely glad,     I hope he wont go mad.