[Mockingbird:] Shake out carols! Solitary here, the night’s carols! Carols of lonesome love! death’s carols! Carols under that lagging, yellow, waning moon! O under that moon where she droops almost down into the sea! O reckless despairing carols. But soft! sink low! Soft! let me just murmur, And do you wait a moment you husky-nois’d … More Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking X

[The mockingbird still sings:] Land! land! O land! Whichever way I turn, O I think you could give me my mate back again, if you only would; For I am almost sure I see her dimly whichever way I look. O rising stars! Perhaps the one I want so much will rise, will rise with … More Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking IX

[Still sings the mocking-bird:] Loud! loud! loud! Loud I call to you, my love! High and clear I shoot my voice over the waves, Surely you must know who is here, is here, You must know who I am, my love. Low-hanging moon! What is that dusky spot in your brown yellow? O it is … More Out of the Cradle, Endlessly Rocking VIII

[The mockingbird sings:] Soothe! soothe! soothe! Close on its wave soothes the wave behind, And again another behind embracing and lapping, every one close, But my love soothes not me, not me. Low hangs the moon, it rose late, It is lagging–I think it is heavy with love, with love. O madly the sea pushes … More Out of the Cradle, Endlessly Rocking VII

Yes my brother I know, The rest might not, but I have treasur’d every note, For more than once dimly down to the beach gliding, Silent, avoiding the moonbeams, blending myself with the shadows, Recalling now the obscure shapes, the echoes, the sounds and sights after their sorts, The white arms out in the breakers … More Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking VI

Yes, when the stars glisten’d, All night long on the prong of a moss-scallop’d stake, Down almost amid the slapping waves, Sat the lone singer wonderful causing tears. He call’d on his mate, He pour’d forth the meanings which I of all men know. –W.W. Axé.

Till of a sudden, May-be kill’d, unknown to her mate, One forenoon the she-bird crouch’d not on the nest, Nor return’d that afternoon, nor the next, Nor ever appear’d again. And thenceforward all summer in the sound of the sea, And at night under the full of the moon in calmer weather, Over the hoarse … More Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking IV

Shine! shine! shine! Pour down your warmth, great sun! While we bask, we two together. Two together! Winds blow south, or winds blow north, Day come white, or night come black, Home, or rivers and mountains from home, Singing all time, minding no time, While we two keep together. This was what the mockingbirds sang. … More Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking III