Once, I knew a fine song, 
-- It is true, believe me -- 
It was all of birds, 
And I held them in a basket; 
When I opened the wicket, 
Heavens! They all flew away. 
I cried, "Come back, little thoughts!" 
But they only laughed. 
They flew on 
Until they were as sand 
Thrown between me and the sky.