“Wee, wee, weet, tweet, tweet, tweet!”

What a clatter, what a chatter

In the village street.

“Chee, chee, cheep, cheep, chee, chee, chee!”

What a rustling, what a hustling

In the maple tree.

“Twit, twit, flit, flit, get away, quit!”

How they gabble, how they scrabble

As to rest they flit.

“Peep, peep, tweet, tweet, wee, wee, wee!”

How they hurry, how they scurry,

Noisy as can be.

“Tr’r, tr’r, sh, sh, do be still,

You’re no wood thrush, wish you could hush,

You know you can’t trill.”

“Tr’r, tr’r, r’r, r’r, yip, peep, peep,

You’re another, I’ll tell mother,

I was most asleep.”

“Tr’r, sh, chee, chee, peep, yip, yip!”

See them swinging, gaily clinging

To the branch’s tip.

“Tr’r, sh, cheep, peep, tee, hee, hee!”

Hear them titter, hear them twitter,

Full of energy.

* * * * * *

Sudden silence falls,

Not a peep is heard;

To its neighbor calls

Not one little bird,

Silent too the trees

Calm their secret keeping;

Gently sighs the breeze;

Sparrows all are sleeping.

—Adene Williams.