Robert Of Lincoln

William Cullen Bryant: Robert Of Lincoln

Merrily swinging on briar and weed,Near to the nest of his little dame,Over the mountain-side or mead,Robert of Lincoln is telling his name.Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,Snug and safe is that nest of ours,Hidden among the summer flowers.Chee, chee, chee.

Robert of Lincoln is gayly dressed,Wearing a bright, black wedding-coat;White are his shoulders, and white his crest,Hear him call in his merry note,Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,Look what a nice, new coat is mine;Sure there was never a bird so fine.Chee, chee, chee.

Robert of Lincoln’s Quaker wife,Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,Passing at home a patient life,Broods in the grass while her husband sings:Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,Brood, kind creature, you need not fearThieves and robbers while I am here.Chee, chee, chee.

Modest and shy as a nun is she;One weak chirp is her only note;Braggart, and prince of braggarts is he,Pouring boasts from his little throat,Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,Never was I afraid of man,Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can.Chee, chee, chee.

Six white eggs on a bed of hay,Flecked with purple, a pretty sight:There as the mother sits all day,Robert is singing with all his might,Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,Nice good wife, that never goes out,Keeping house while I frolic about.Chee, chee, chee.

Soon as the little ones chip the shell,Six wide mouths are open for food;Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well,Gathering seeds for the hungry brood:Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,This new life is likely to beHard for a gay young fellow like me.Chee, chee, chee.

Robert of Lincoln at length is madeSober with work, and silent with care,Off is his holiday garment laid,Half forgotten that merry air:Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,Nobody knows but my mate and I,Where our nest and our nestlings lie,Chee, chee, chee.

Summer wanes; the children are grown;Fun and frolic no more he knows,Robert of Lincoln’s a humdrum drone;Off he flies, and we sing as he goes,Bob-o’-link, bob-o’-link,Spink, spank, spink,When you can pipe that merry old strain,Robert of Lincoln, come back again.Chee, chee, chee.

-1855

Title: refers to the bobolink, an American songbird, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, whose common name was originally bobolincan, in imitation of its call.l. 19, Quaker wife: The female bobolink is so-called because of her plain, yellowish-brown plumage.