I have a Bird in spring 1
Which for myself doth sing－
The spring decoys.
And as the summer nears－
And as the Rose appears,
Robin is gone.
Yet do I not repine 7
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown－
Learneth beyond the sea
Melody new for me
And will return.
Fast is a safer hand 13
Held in a truer Land
Are mine－
And though they now depart,
Tell I my doubting heart
They're thine.
In a serener Bright, 19
In a more golden light
I see
Each little doubt and fear,
Each little discord here
Removed.
Then will I not repine, 25
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown
Shall in a distant tree
Bright melody for me
Return.
Which for myself doth sing－
The spring decoys.
And as the summer nears－
And as the Rose appears,
Robin is gone.
Yet do I not repine 7
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown－
Learneth beyond the sea
Melody new for me
And will return.
Fast is a safer hand 13
Held in a truer Land
Are mine－
And though they now depart,
Tell I my doubting heart
They're thine.
In a serener Bright, 19
In a more golden light
I see
Each little doubt and fear,
Each little discord here
Removed.
Then will I not repine, 25
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown
Shall in a distant tree
Bright melody for me
Return.
(F.4/J.5)
[1–30] Benjamin Franklin Newton, whom Dickinson called the "first of my own friends," died on March 24, 1853. This poem was written in September 1854.
[1] Bird:: a young man. spring:: a snare, noose; Newton was trapped by her.
[3] decoy:: a hint on spring as a snare.
[4] summer near, gone:: Newton died just before summer.
[6] Robin:: a man; a common person's name.
[8] that Bird of mine:: she considers Newton was for her.
[11, 12] new, return:: probably a play of Newton.
[30] Return:: probably a word play of Newton at the end.
"When a little Girl, I had a friend, who taught me Immortality－but venturing too near, himself－he never returned." (ED's Letter 261, April 25, 1862)
"Oh Austin, Newton is dead. The first of my own friends. Pace." (ED's Letter 110, March 27, 1853)