The Bird's Release

The Bird's Release

"The Indians of Bengal, and of the coast of Malabar, bring cages filled with birds to the graves of their friends, over which they set the birds at liberty. This custom is alluded to in the description of Virginia's funeral." - See Paul and Virginia.

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Go forth, oft she is gone!

With the golden light of her wavy hair,
She is gone to the fields of the viewless air;

She hath left her dwelling lone!

Her voice hath pass'd away!

It hath pass'd away like a summer breeze,
When it leaves the hills for the far blue seas,

Where we may not trace its way.

Go forth, and like her be free!

With radiant wing and thy glancing eye,
Thou hast all the range of the sunny sky,

And what is our grief to thee?

Is it aught even to her we mourn?

Doth she look on the tears by her kindred shed?
Doth she rest with the flowers o'er her gentle head,

Or float, on the light wind borne?

We know not - but she is gone!

Her step from the dance, her voice from the song,
And the smile of her eye from the festal throng; -

She hath left her dwelling lone!

When the waves at sunset shine,

We may hear thy voice, amid thousands more,
In the scented woods of our glowing shore;

But we shall not know 'tis thine!

Even so with the loved one flown!

Her smile in the starlight may wander by,
Her breath may be near in the wind's low sigh,

Around us - but all unknown.

Go forth, we have loosed thy chain!

We may deck the cage with the richest flowers;
Which the bright day rears in our eastern bowers;

But thou wilt not be lured again.

Even thus may the summer pour

All fragrant things on the land's green breast,
And the glorious earth like a bride be dress'd,

But it wins her back no more.

Mrs. Hemans (Felicia Dorothea Hemans)

New Series 2:6, p. 24

1841.04.10