Lily Lee - May 2nd, Sunday Fun & Fun with Chairs

Lily Lee (unknown - but was a student at the Cherokee Female Seminary in Oklahoma around 1855), Cherokee - also from the new Norton’s Anthology of Native Nations Poetry, edited by Joy Harjo. Fun to read out loud, made me want to know what the Bird Nation in my neck of the woods is actually talking about…

LITERARY DAY AMONG THE BIRDS

Dark night at last has taken its flight,

Morn had come with her earliest light;

Her herald, gray dawn, had extinguished each star,

And gay banners in the east were waving afar.

That lovely goddess, Beautiful Spring,

Had fanned all the earth with her radiant wing;

“Had calmed the wild winds with fragrant breath,”

And gladden’d nature with an emerald wreath.

Within the precincts of the Bird Nation,

All was bustle and animation;

For that day was to witness a literary feast,

Where only Birds were invited guests,

The place of meeting was a leafy nook,

Close by the side of a sparkling brook.

Soon were assembled a merry band,

Birds from every tree in the land.

Mrs. Dove came first, in soft colors drest;

Then Mr. Canary, looking his best.

The family of Martins, dressed in brown,

And Mr. Woodpecker, with his ruby crown.

The exercises opened with a scientific song,

voices of the feathered throng.

Then was delivered a brilliant oration,

By 'Squire RAVEN, the wisest bird of the nation.

Master WHIP-POOR-WILL next mounted the stage,

Trying to look very much like a sage.

Eight pretty green Parrots then spoke with art;

Though small, with credit they carried their part.

Again an oration by Mr. Quail,

Spoken as fast as the gallop of snail.

And lastly. Sir BLACKBIRD whistl'd off an address,

Of twenty odd minutes, more or less.

Then came the applause, so loud and long,

That the air echoed the joyous song.

But the sun was low, so soon they sped

To their quiet nests and their grassy beds;

And rocked by the breeze, they quietly slept,

Ere the firstling star in the blue sky crept.