1.
Little bird singing
in the hollow of the tree,
who are you singing for
- is it for me?
Little bird singing
in the broad green meadows of day,
though I knock and I knock
at the door of my heart
it remains obdurately shut
- will it perchance open today?
Little bird singing
in the mysterious forest of might,
I have risen up from my bed of cares,
enchanted by your rapturous song
but although I search the whole night long,
still you are hidden from sight...
Little bird silent
where have you gone?
I listen in vain for your song;
the sun has long set
and the silvery moon fled
the wheeling stars throng.
Little bird lost!
Empty the tree,
empty my thoughts of all joy
- will you return ere the dawn, little bird
and sing your pure song just for me?
2.
Little Bird Singing.
I heard a little bird singing to the mysterious traveller in human hearts
And asked him:
"Tell me, little bird, have you come far?"
"As far as the eye can see" he replied,
"and as far as the heart can travel,
both forwards and back."
I saw a little star shining in the sky
And the little lamps of people's houses glimmering in the distance beneath it.
"Tell me, little star" I asked it
"Is it not both cold and dark, despite your beauty, up there in the immensity of space?"
"Not as cold or as dark as in the palaces and throne-rooms of great Kings and Queens" he replied,
"or in the hearts of certain men."
I saw a little child cushioned on his elder sister's breast.
All about it great engines of war gouged deep wounds in the flesh of the Earth
And men fought and grappled with men and spilled each others blood upon the ravaged soil.
A tear rolled from the young girl's cheek and fell upon her brother's face.
"Little child" I asked,
"what terrible dreams are you dreaming, cushioned on your sister's breast?"
The child made no reply, but merely smiled gently in it's sleep.
Little bird singing
in the hollow of the tree,
who are you singing for
- is it for me?
Little bird singing
in the broad green meadows of day,
though I knock and I knock
at the door of my heart
it remains obdurately shut
- will it perchance open today?
Little bird singing
in the mysterious forest of might,
I have risen up from my bed of cares,
enchanted by your rapturous song
but although I search the whole night long,
still you are hidden from sight...
Little bird silent
where have you gone?
I listen in vain for your song;
the sun has long set
and the silvery moon fled
the wheeling stars throng.
Little bird lost!
Empty the tree,
empty my thoughts of all joy
- will you return ere the dawn, little bird
and sing your pure song just for me?
2.
Little Bird Singing.
I heard a little bird singing to the mysterious traveller in human hearts
And asked him:
"Tell me, little bird, have you come far?"
"As far as the eye can see" he replied,
"and as far as the heart can travel,
both forwards and back."
I saw a little star shining in the sky
And the little lamps of people's houses glimmering in the distance beneath it.
"Tell me, little star" I asked it
"Is it not both cold and dark, despite your beauty, up there in the immensity of space?"
"Not as cold or as dark as in the palaces and throne-rooms of great Kings and Queens" he replied,
"or in the hearts of certain men."
I saw a little child cushioned on his elder sister's breast.
All about it great engines of war gouged deep wounds in the flesh of the Earth
And men fought and grappled with men and spilled each others blood upon the ravaged soil.
A tear rolled from the young girl's cheek and fell upon her brother's face.
"Little child" I asked,
"what terrible dreams are you dreaming, cushioned on your sister's breast?"
The child made no reply, but merely smiled gently in it's sleep.
