by John Burroughs (1837 - 1921)
I hear the wild geese honking
Language: English
I hear the wild geese honking From out the misty night, -- A sound of moving armies On-sweeping in their might; The river ice is drifting Beneath their northward flight. I hear the bluebird plaintive From out the morning sky, Or see his wings a-twinkle That with the azure vie; No other bird more welcome, No more prophetic cry. I hear the sparrow's ditty Anear my study door; A simple song of gladness That winter days are o'er; My heart is singing with him I love him more and more. I hear the starling fluting His liquid "O-ka-lee;" I hear the downy drumming, His vernal reveillé; From out the maple orchard The nuthatch calls to me. Oh, spring is surely coming, Her couriers fill the air; Each morn are new arrivals, Each night her ways prepare; I scent her fragrant garments, Her foot is on the stair.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by John Burroughs (1837 - 1921), "A March glee", appears in Bird and Bough, Boston & New York: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company, first published 1906 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Frederic Archer (1838 - 1901), "The sparrow's ditty" [voice and piano] [text not verified]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2012-04-05
Line count: 30
Word count: 146