Little
Birds
are
dining
Warily
and
well,
Hid
in
mossy
cell:
Hid,
I
say,
by
waiters
Gorgeous
in
their
gaiters
–
I’ve
a
Tale
to
tell.
Little
Birds
are
feeding
Justices
with
jam,
Rich
in
frizzled
ham:
Rich,
I
say,
in
oysters
Haunting
shady
cloisters
–
That
is
what
I
am.
Little
Birds
are
teaching
Tigresses
to
smile,
Innocent
of
guile:
Smile,
I
say,
not
smirkle
–
Mouth
a
semicircle,
That’s
the
proper
style!
Little
Birds
are
sleeping
All
among
the
pins,
Where
the
loser
wins:
Where,
I
say,
he
sneezes
When
and
how
he
pleases
–
So
the
Tale
begins.
Little
Birds
are
writing
Interesting
books,
To
be
read
by
cooks:
Read,
I
say,
not
roasted
–
Letterpress,
when
toasted,
Loses
its
good
looks.
Little
Birds
are
playing
Bagpipes
on
the
shore,
Where
the
tourists
snore:
“Thanks!”
they
cry.
“‘Tis
thrilling!
Take,
oh
take
this
shilling!
Let
us
have
no
more!”
Little
Birds
are
bathing
Crocodiles
in
cream,
Like
a
happy
dream:
Like,
but
not
so
lasting
–
Crocodiles,
when
fasting,
Are
not
all
they
seem!
Little
Birds
are
choking
Baronets
with
bun,
Taught
to
fire
a
gun:
Taught,
I
say,
to
splinter
Salmon
in
the
winter
–
Merely
for
the
fun.
Little
Birds
are
hiding
Crimes
in
carpet-bags,
Blessed
by
happy
stags:
Blessed,
I
say,
though
beaten
–
Since
our
friends
are
eaten
When
the
memory
flags.
Little
Birds
are
tasting
Gratitude
and
gold,
Pale
with
sudden
cold:
Pale,
I
say,
and
wrinkled
–
When
the
bells
have
tinkled,
And
the
Tale
is
told.