Wood Song, by Sara Teasdale

From My Woods, by Samuel A. Harper (1923) –

Click here for biographical information about Samuel Alain Harper.

Recording of a Wood Thrush:

According to All About Birds, “The Wood Thrush’s easily recognized, flute-like ee-oh-lay is actually only the middle phrase of a three-part song.” For more information, see here.

Photograph from My Woods, by Samuel A. Harper (1923).

Chord chart:

I heard a

wood thrush in the

dusk

Twirl

three notes and make a

star —

My heart that

walked with bitterness

Came back from

very

far.

I heard a

wood thrush in the

dusk…

Three shining

notes were all he

had,

And yet they

made a starry

call —

I caught life

back against my breast

And kissed it,

scars and all.

I heard a wood

thrush in the

dusk…

Note: The Bb is barred on the sixth fret, the Ab on the fourth fret, the Eb on the sixth fret.

Publishing history:

Poetry, A Magazine Of Verse, p. 126, June 1917
Love Songs, by Sara Teasdale, p. 52, 1917
My Woods, by Samuel A. Harper, p. 53, 1923
The Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee), p. 6, March 12, 1928 – link

Music inspired by Wood Song:

Read about the composition here.