The Coming of the Great Bird

A boy was watching the water

As it came lapping the edge of fern.

Little ships passed him

As the moon came leaning across dark blue rays of light.

The spruce trees saw the white ships sailing away,

And the moon bending up the blue sky

Where stars were twinkling like fairy lamps;

The boy was looking toward foreign lands

As the ships passed,

Their white sails glittering in the moonlight.

He was thinking how he wished to see

Foreign lands, strange people,

When suddenly a bird came flying!

It swooped down upon the slope

And spoke to him:

"Do you want to go across the deep blue sea?

Get on my back; I will take you."

"Oh," cried the little boy, "who sent you?

Who knew my thoughts of foreign lands?"