Beautiful Dove

Edna St. Vincent Millay

1892 to 1950

Poem Image

Beautiful Dove, come back to us in April:
You could not over-winter on our world.
Fly to some milder planet until springtime;
Return with olive in your claws upcurled.

Leave us to shrikes and ravens until springtime:
We let them find their food as best they may;
But you, we do not grow the grain you feed on;
And you will starve among us, if you stay.

But oh, in April, from some balmier climate
Come back to us, be with us in the spring!
If we can learn to grow the grain you feed on,
You might be happy here; might even sing.