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