When from these lofty thoughts I woke, "What is it," said I, "that you bear, Beneath the covert of your Cloak, 15 Protected from this cold damp air?" [2] She answered, soon as she the question heard, "A simple burthen, Sir, a little Singing-bird." And, thus continuing, she said, "I had a Son, who many a day 20 Sailed on the seas, but he is dead; [3] In Denmark he was cast away: And I have travelled weary miles to see If aught which he had owned might still remain for me. [4] "The bird and cage they both were his: 25 'Twas my Son's bird; and neat and trim He kept it: many voyages The singing-bird had gone [5] with him; When last he sailed, he left the bird behind; From bodings, as might be, that hung upon his mind. [6] 30 "He to a fellow-lodger's care Had left it, to be watched and fed, And pipe its song in safety;--there [7] I found it when my Son was dead; And now, God help me for my little wit! 35 I bear [8] it with me, Sir;--he took so much delight in it." * * * * * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1815. ... in ... 1807.] [Variant 2: 1836. ... I woke, With the first word I had to spare I said to her, "Beneath your Cloak What's that which on your arm you bear?" 1807. "What treasure," said I,"do you bear, Beneath the covert of your Cloak Protected from the cold damp air?" 1820.] [Variant 3: 1807. "I had a Son,--the waves might roar, He feared them not, a Sailor gay! But he will cross the waves no more: 1820. ... cross the deep ... 1827. The text of 1832 returns to that of 1807. [a]] [Variant 4: 1827. And I have been as far as Hull, to see What clothes he might have left, or other property. 1807. And I have travelled far as Hull, to see 1815. And I have travelled many miles to see If aught which he had owned might still remain for me. 1820.] [Variant 5: 1845. This Singing-bird hath gone ... 1807. ... had gone ... 1820.] [Variant 6: 1827. As it might be, perhaps, from bodings of his mind. 1807.] [Variant 7: 1827. Till he came back again; and there 1807.] [Variant 8: 1827. I trail ... 1807.] * * * * * SUB-FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Sub-Footnote a: This return, in 1832, to the original text of the poem was due to Barren Field's criticism, the justice of which Wordsworth admitted.--Ed.] In the Wordsworth household this poem went by the name of "The Singing Bird" as well as 'The Sailor's Mother'. "Thursday (March 11th).--A fine morning. William worked at the poem of 'The Singing Bird.' ..." "Friday (March 12th).--William finished his poem of 'The Singing Bird.'" (Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal.)--Ed.