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  The birds begun at four o’clock
Their period for dawn
A music numerous as space
And neighboring as noon –

  I could not count their force
  Their numbers did expend
As brook by brook bestows itself
  To multiply the pond

  Their listener was not
Except occasional man
  In homely industry arrayed

 ¦

To overtake the <dawn> morn.
Nor was it for applause
That I could ascertain
But independent extasy
Of universe and men.
     By six the flood had done
No tumult there had been
Of dressing, or departure –
Yet the band was gone.
The sun engrossed the east –
The day resumed the world –
The miracle that introduced –
Forgotten – as fulfilled.

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