BIRDS: WHY ARE YE SILENT? John Clare c. 184_? ================================= 1 Why are ye silent Birds where do ye fly Winters not violent Wi such a spring sky The wheatlands are green snow and frost is away Birds why are ye silent on such a sweet day 2 By the slated pigstye The red breast whispers Where brown leave's lye The hedge sparrow lispers But why is the chaffinch and bullfinch so still While the sulphur primroses bedeck the wood hill 3 The bright yellowhammers Are strutting about All still, and none stammers A single note out From the hedge starts the Blackbird at brookside to drink I thought he'd have whistled but he only said prink 4 The tree creeper hustles Up firs rusty bark All silent he bustles We needn't say hark There's no song in the forest in field or in wood Yet the sun gilds the grass as tho' come in for good 5 February the tenth and Even sparrows scarce chip The lark in the bents ran An dodging round whirp All silent they winnow o'er grass i the glen Then drop like a stone i' the stibbles agen 6 How bright the odd daisies Peep under the stubbs How bright pilewort blazes Where ruddled sheep rubs The old willow trunk by the side o' the brook Where soon for Blue Violets the children will look 7 By the cot green and mossy Feed sparrow and hens On the ridge brown and glossy They chirp now and then The wren cocks his tail oer his back by the sty Where his green bottle nest will be made by and by 8 Here's bunches o chickweed Wi' small starry flow'rs Where Red caps oft pick seed from weeds in Spring hours And Blue Cap and Black Cap in glossy spring coat Are peeping in buds wi' out singing a note 9 Why silent? should birds be And sunshine so warm Larks hide where the herds be By cottage and farm If wild flowers were blooming and fully set in the Spring Maybe all the Birdies would cheerfully sing-- ======== ========