My Bird

Representative Text

1 Ere last year’s moon had left the sky,
A birdling sought my Indian nest,
And folded, O, so lovingly!
Her tiny wings upon my breast.

2 From morn till evening’s purple tinge,
In winsome helplessness she lies,
Two rose-leaves, with a silken fringe,
Shut softly on her starry eyes.

3 There’s not in Ind a lovelier bird—
Broad earth owns not a happier nest—
O God! Thou hast a fountain stirred,
Whose waters nevermore shall rest!

4 This beautiful, mysterious thing,
This seeming visitant from Heaven
This bird, with the immortal wing,
To me—to me, Thy hand has given.

5 The pulse first caught its tiny stroke,
The blood, its crimson hue from mine—
This life, which I have dared invoke,
Henceforth is parallel with Thine.

6 A silent awe is in my room,
I tremble with delicious fear;
The future, with its light and gloom,
Time and eternity, is here.

7 Doubts—hopes, in eager tumult, rise—
Hear, O my God! one earnest prayer!
Room for my bird in paradise,
And give her angel plumage there.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #11839

Author: Emily C. Judson

Judson, Emily, née Chubbuck, who wrote under the nom deplume of “Fanny Forester," was born of very poor parents at Eaton, Central New York, Aug. 22, 1817. She was self-educated, and displayed literary power at an early age. In 1846 she became the third wife of Dr. A. Judson (p. 609, i.), and sailed with him from America for Burma the same year. She died at Hamilton, New York, June 1, 1854. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Ere last year’s moon had left the sky
Title: My Bird
Author: Emily C. Judson (1848)
Source: Olio of Domestic Verses, 1852
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #11839
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The Cyber Hymnal #11839

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