So zestfully canst thou sing?
And all this indignity
With God's consent, on thee!
Blinded ere yet a-wing
By the red-hot needle thou
I stand and wonder how
So zestfully thou canst sing!

Resenting not such wrong
Thy grievous pain forgot
Eternal dark thy lot
Groping thy whole life long;
After that stab of fire;
Enjailed in pitiless wire;
Resenting not such wrong!

Who hath charity? This bird
Who suffereth long and is kind
Is not provoked, though blind
And alive ensepulchred?
Who hopeth, endureth all things?
Who thinketh no evil, but sings?
Who is divine? This bird