Book 2 — ANSWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION[386:1]
Reading edition
ANSWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION[386:1]
Do you ask what the birds say? The Sparrow, the Dove, The Linnet and Thrush say, 'I love and I love!' In the winter they're silent—the wind is so strong; What it says, I don't know, but it sings a loud song. But green leaves, and blossoms, and sunny warm weather, 5 And singing, and loving—all come back together. But the Lark is so brimful of gladness and love, The green fields below him, the blue sky above, That he sings, and he sings; and for ever sings he— 'I love my Love, and my Love loves me!' 10
1802.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
Title] The Language of Birds: Lines spoken extempore, to a little child, in early spring M. P.
Between 6-7
'I love, and I love,' almost all the birds say From sunrise to star-rise, so gladsome are they.
M. P.
After 10
'Tis no wonder that he's full of joy to the brim, When He loves his Love, and his Love loves him.
M. P.
Line 10 is adapted from the refrain of Prior's Song ('One morning very early, one morning in the spring'):—'I love my love, because I know my love loves me.'