Blackbirds

"A slender young Blackbird built in a thorn-tree: A spruce little fellow as ever could be; His bill was so yellow, his feathers so black, So long was his tail, and so glossy his back, That good Mrs. B., who sat hatching her eggs, And only just left them to stretch her poor legs, And pick for a minute the worm she preferred, Thought there never was seen such a beautiful bird."

"There always seems to be a kneejerk response to blame environmental pollutants, but collisions with infrastructure are very common. In a tightly packed flock, the birds are following the movements of the bird in front rather than actually interpreting their wider surroundings, so it isn’t unexpected that such events happen occasionally."

"The birds have ceased their songs, All save the blackbird, that from yon tall ash, 'Mid Pinkie's greenery, from his mellow throat, In adoration of the setting sun, Chants forth his evening hymn."

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise."

"Golden Bill! Golden Bill! Lo, the peep of day; All the air is cool and still. From the elm-tree on the hill, Chant away: * * * * * Let thy loud and welcome lay Pour alway Few notes but strong."

"Among twenty snowy mountains, The only moving thing Was the eye of the blackbird."

"A man and a woman Are one. A man and a woman and a blackbird Are one."

"O Blackbird! sing me something well: While all the neighbors shoot thee round, I keep smooth plats of fruitful ground, Where thou may'st warble, eat and dwell."