Poor Robin sits and sings alone,
When show'rs and driving sleet,
By the cold winds of winter blown,
The cottage casement beat.
Come, let him share our chimney-nook,
And dry his dripping wing,
See, little Mary shuts her book,
And cries, "Poor Robin sing."
Methinks I hear his faint reply,—
"When cowslips deck the plain,
"The lark shall carol in the sky,
"And I shall sing again.
"But in the cold and wintry day,
"To you I owe a debt,
"That, in the sunshine of the May,
"I never can forget."