Willywagtail & The Young Child Poem by Patrick Dennis

Today a little piebald bird sat on my windowsill.
He looked at me to know my soul & know my will;
And called to me for my longing heart's desire.
This I said to him (my heart a'fire) .

"Willy, dear little bird, your joyous tail a'wag,
Tell me all the wonder of the mountain crag
And all with happy eyes you see in flight
Over the hills & valleys green & bright;
All you see from up above, up above so high
When on magic, floating wings you fly."

Said he to me: "Oh, child, do you envy
The wonders of the world I see
And think yourself the lesser for
Lacking wings and flight and more,
And ways of looking down from up above so high
And mourn your lack with a whimper and a sigh?

"Cheer now from envy and from lack
And take the gift of nature given free and given back.
For some look down, some above and some within
For all the glories, beauties, love of God & kin:
And you, my child, O winged heart,
Live in the within-world of wonder & of art.
I too, your little Wagtail friend, live within the magic of your soul
And I will bear you on my little wings entire & whole
To where your spirit longs to be -
Above the turmoil of the world, wild and free.
I, the fancied dreamer of your flight
Will fly you to your visions true & bright.

"So, you see, I your little friend
And all the creatures of the world attend
On your whim, your wish, your prayer, your play
And give you joy & give you flight along your sweet & happy way."