Once, Paumanok

Once, Paumanok,

When the snows had melted -- when the lilac-scent was in the air,

and the Fifth-month grass was growing,

Up this sea-shore, in some briers,

Two guests from Alabama -- two together,

And their nest, and four light-green eggs, spotted with brown,

And every day the he-bird, to and fro, near at hand,

And every day the she-bird, crouch'd on her nest, silent, with bright eyes,

And every day I, a curious boy, never too close, never disturbing them,

Cautiously peering, absorbing, translating.