Robin Redbreast

Robin Redbreast

Original Text
Flower Pieces and other poems ... With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (London: Reeves and Turner, 1888): 82-83. del A446 F56 1888 Fisher Rare Book Library
1Good-bye, good-bye to Summer!
2    For Summer's nearly done;
3The garden smiling faintly,
4    Cool breezes in the sun;
5Our Thrushes now are silent,
6    Our Swallows flown away, --
7But Robin's here, in coat of brown,
8    With ruddy breast-knot gay.
9Robin, Robin Redbreast,
10    O Robin dear!
11Robin singing sweetly
12    In the falling of the year.
13Bright yellow, red, and orange,
14    The leaves come down in hosts;
15The trees are Indian Princes,
16    But soon they'll turn to Ghosts;
17The scanty pears and apples
18    Hang russet on the bough,
19It's Autumn, Autumn, Autumn late,
20    'Twill soon be Winter now.
21Robin, Robin Redbreast,
22    O Robin dear!
23And welaway! my Robin,
24    For pinching times are near.
25The fireside for the Cricket,
26    The wheatstack for the Mouse,
27When trembling night-winds whistle
28    And moan all round the house;
29The frosty ways like iron,
30    The branches plumed with snow, --
31Alas! in Winter, dead and dark,
32    Where can poor Robin go?
33Robin, Robin Redbreast,
34    O Robin dear!
35And a crumb of bread for Robin,
36    His little heart to cheer.
Publication Start Year
1888
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1999.
Rhyme