Morns like these－we parted－1
Noons like these－she rose－
Fluttering first－then firmer
To her fair repose.
Never did she lisp it－5
It was not for me－
She－was mute from transport－
I－from agony－
Till－the evening nearing 9
One the curtains drew－
Quick! A Sharper rustling!
And this linnet flew!
Noons like these－she rose－
Fluttering first－then firmer
To her fair repose.
Never did she lisp it－5
It was not for me－
She－was mute from transport－
I－from agony－
Till－the evening nearing 9
One the curtains drew－
Quick! A Sharper rustling!
And this linnet flew!
(F.18/J.27)
[1–12] This poem is about the fairy tale Blue Bird (1697) by Madame d'Aulnoy (1650–1705).
[1] Morns, parted:: Princess Fiordelisa was locked in a tower by her stepmother. Prince Charming wanted to marry her but was turned into a blue bird. The blue bird met Fiordelisa every day at night, and left in the morning.
[4] repose:: Fiordelisa slept at day time.
[7] transport:: banishment, exile; Fiordelisa in a tower.
[8] agony:: Prince Charming being turned into a blue bird.
[10] One, drew:: the queen's spy discovered their meeting one day, and the blue bird never came back to the tower.
[12] linnet:: blue linnet; a hint on the Blue Bird).
The Blue Linnet, or Indigo Bird, is well known in America. Its favourite haunts are the borders of woods, road-sides, and fields of deep clover. It is very active, and extremely neat and pretty; it is also a vigorous singer. Its usual note, when alarmed, is a sharp chip. ─ Tales of Animals (1837) By Samuel Griswold Goodrich