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By the Sea, and Other Verses

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<h2>BUILDING TIME</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> The time of the singing of birds is come; 'Tis the happiest time of the year: They are saying, "Let's build us our summer home, For the frost-king no longer we fear." </div> <div class="stanza"> The time of the singing of birds is come, And the time of their building, too; With a feather, a straw and a stray bit of gum They will shew what bird-builders can do. </div> <div class="stanza"> The time of the singing of birds is come: I was eaves-dropping under the trees; And as I translated the twitter and hum, I thought the words sounded like these: </div> <div class="stanza"> "Twirr-a-whirr, twirr-a-whirr, [Pg 45] The young leaves are astir; We will make us a nest snug and warm On this apple-tree bough— We are at it e'en now— All secure from intruders and storm. </div> <div class="stanza"> "'Tis for home, 'tis for love, 'Tis for heaven above, And our roof is the clear azure sky; The foundations we lay In this rough straw and clay, But we'll line it with moss by and by." </div> <div class="stanza"> The time of the singing of birds is here, And if under the apple-tree bough Orlando and May would a domicile rear, Let them hear what the birds tell them now: </div> <div class="stanza"> "Build for home, build for love, Build for heaven above, Build with music and cheer like the birds; And if palace or cot, Built of marble or what, Line your nest with the moss of kind words," </div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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