i bring in tales of happiness,

i bring i tales of love,

i bring in tales wrapped in fresh dew,

i bring in tales of the holy Jew.

i bring in tales from Araby,

i bring in spoofs of the Caribbean.

Of the parrot in the abandoned isle,

Of the witty beggar in the northern isle.

But oh! the dear bird at my bedside,

who lulls me up from my waking sleep,

the song she sings i cannot hear,

For it s a holy dread i cannot bear.

i songs of tales from shadows afar,

yet those near, elude me far...