Better -- than Music! For I -- who heard it --

Better -- than Music! For I -- who heard it --
I was used -- to the Birds -- before --
This -- was different -- 'Twas Translation --
Of all tunes I knew -- and more --

'Twas'nt contained -- like other stanza --
No one could play it -- the second time --
But the Composer -- perfect Mozart --
Perish with him -- that Keyless Rhyme!

So -- Children -- assured that[^a1]told how Brooks in Eden --
Bubbled a better -- Melody --
Quaintly infer -- Eve's great surrender --
Urging the feet -- that would -- not -- fly --

[^a1: assured that | assured that]

Children -- grown up --[^a2]matured -- arc wiser -- mostly --
Eden -- a legend -- dimly crooned[^a3]learned[^a4]told --
Eve -- and the Anguish -- Grandame's story --
But -- I was telling a tune -- I heard --

[^a2: grown up -- | grown up --]

[^a3: crooned | crooned]

[^a4: learned | learned]

Not such a strain -- the Church -- baptizes --
When the last Saint -- goes up the Aisles --
Not such a stanza splits the silence --
When the Redemption shakes --[^a5]strikes her Bells --

[^a5: shakes -- | shakes --]

Let me not lose[^a6]waste --[^a7]spill -- it's smallest cadence --
Humming -- for promise -- when alone --
Humming -- until my faint Rehearsal --
Drop into tune -- around the Throne --

[^a6: lose | lose]

[^a7: waste -- | waste --]