C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

The Free Life of the Bird

Translation of Nathan Haskell Dole

PAINFUL labors, grievous sorrows,

Never on God’s birdling rest,

And it fears no dark to-morrows,

Builds itself no lasting nest.

On the bough it sleeps and swings

Till the ruddy sun appears;

Then it shakes its wings and sings,

For the voice of God it hears.

After spring’s delightful weather,

When the burning summer’s fled,

And the autumn brings together

For men’s sorrow, for men’s dread,

Mists and storms in gloomy legions,—

Then the bird across the main

Flies to far-off southern regions,

Till the spring returns again.