LESSON 49

THE SANDPIPER

矶　鹞

1．Across the lonely beach we flit,

One little sandpiper⁽¹⁾ and I,

And fast I gather, bit by bit,

The scattered driftwood⁽²⁾, bleached⁽³⁾ and dry.

The wild waves reach their hands for it,

The wild wind raves, the tide⁽⁴⁾ runs high,

As up and down the beach we flit,

One little sandpiper and I.

2．Above our heads the sullen clouds

Scud⁽⁵⁾, black and swift, across the sky;

Like silent ghosts in misty shrouds⁽⁶⁾

Stand out the white lighthouses high.

Almost as far as eye can reach

I see the close-reefed⁽⁷⁾ vessels fly,

As fast we flit across the beach,

One little sandpiper and I.

3．I watch him as he skims along,

Uttering his sweet and mournful cry;

He starts not at my fitful⁽⁸⁾ song,

Nor flash of fluttering drapery⁽⁹⁾.

He has no thought of any wrong,

He scans⁽¹⁰⁾ me with a fearless eye;

Stanch⁽¹¹⁾ friends are we, well-tried and strong,

The little sandpiper and I.

4．Comrade, where wilt thou be to-night,

When the loosed storm breaks furiously?

My driftwood fire will burn so bright!

To what warm shelter canst thou fly?

I do not fear for thee, though wroth⁽¹²⁾

The tempest rushes through the sky;

For are we not God's children both,

Thou, little sandpiper, and I?

(Cella Thaxter)