24 MAY 1890, Page 15

POETRY.

THE BLACKBIRD: A SPRING SONG.

As I went up a woodland walk In Taunton Dene,

When May was green—

I heard a bird so blithely talk The twinkling sprays between, That I stood still, With right good will, To learn what he might mean. No yellow-horned honeysuckle Hath e'er distilled The sweets he spilled

In one long, dulcet, dewy chuckle—

That blackbird golden-billed- Aye piping plain, '• Hope, hope again !"— Till my heart's grief he stilled.

The Orchard, Taunton.

ALFRED PERCEVAL GRAVES.