[نصيرة تختوخ]

MY DOVES

by: Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)

• • oPPOSITE my chamber window,
  • On the sunny roof, at play
  • , High above the city's tumult,
  • Flocks of doves sit day by day
  • . Shining necks and snowy bosoms
  • , Little rosy, tripping feet,
  • Twinkling eyes and fluttering wings,
  • Cooing voices, low and sweet
  • ,-- Graceful games and friendly meetings,
  • Do I daily watch and see.
  • For these happy little neighbors
  • Always seem at peace to be.
  • On my window-ledge, to lure them, Crumbs of bread I often strew,
  • And, behind the curtain hiding,
  • Watch them flutter to and fro.
  • Soon they cease to fear the giver,
  • Quick are they to feel my love,
  • And my alms are freely taken By the shyest little dove.
  • In soft flight, they circle downward,
  • Peep in through the window-pane;
  • Stretch their gleaming necks to greet me,
  • Peck and coo, and come again.
  • Faithful little friends and neighbors,
  • For no wintry wind or rain,
  • Household cares or airy pastimes
  • , Can my loving birds restrain.
  • Other friends forget, or linger,
  • But each day I surely know
  • That my doves will come and leave here
  • Little footprints in the snow.
  • So, they teach me the sweet lesson,
  • That the humblest may give Help and hope, and in so doing,
  • Learn the truth by which we live;
  • For the heart that freely scatters
  • Simple charities and loves,
  • Lures home content, and joy, and peace,
  • Like a soft-winged flock of doves.