Silly Tui

"The tui's song is bright" some say—
"Not like the nightingale."
Say some—"Unlike the nightingale
Is tui's sorry wail."

* * * * *

When I live gloomy grief beside
When I am feeling wan,
My sweetest thoughts of suicide,
My faith in all things gone—
When Fate on me grins evilly,
And good luck just won't come
—When Adele frowns down on me
The tui's song is glum.

* * * *

When I am feeling full of beans
And have more pep than pip;
My heart is sounding joyful paeons.
And ships like lambkins skip—
The sun on me shines cheerily
Come troubles, come what may,
When Adele smiles up at me,
The tui's song is gay.

B. A. S.