The Last Word of a Blue Bird

As told to a child As I went out a Crow In a low voice said, ‘Oh, I was looking for you. How do you do? I just came to tell you To tell Lesley (will you?) That her little Bluebird Wanted me to bring word That the north wind last night That made the stars bright And made ice on the trough Almost made him cough His tail feathers off. He just had to fly! But he sent her Good-by, And said to be good, And wear her red hood, And look for the skunk tracks In the snow with an ax- And do everything! And perhaps in the spring He would come back and sing.’