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the pelican - randall thompson lyrics

pelic*n*s is the word
for a certain breed of bird
who truly is a crane
egypt is his domain
there are two kinds thereof
near to the nile they live
one of them dwells in the flood
the fishes are his food
the other lives in the isles
on lizards, crocodiles
serpents and stinking creatures
and beasts of evil nature
in greek his title was onocrotalos
which is congium rostrum said
in the latin tongue instead
or long beak in our own
of this bird is known
that when he comes to his young
thеy being grown and strong
and does them kindly things
and covеrs them with his wings
the little birds begin
fiercely to peck at him
they tear at him and try
to blind their father’s eye
he falls upon them then
and slays them with great pain
then goes away for a spell
leaving them where they fell
on the third day he returns
and thereupon he mourns
feeling so strong a woe
to see the small birds so
that he strikes his breast with his beak
until the blood shall leak
and when the coursing blood
spatters his lifeless brood
such virtue does it have
that once again they live
know that this pelican
signifies mary’s son
the little birds are men
restored to life again
from death, by that dear blood
shed for us by our god
now learn one meaning more
revealed by holy lore
know why the small birds try
to peck their father’s eye
who turns on them in wrath
and puts them all to death
men who deny the light
would blind god’s blazing sight
but on such people all
his punishment shall fall
this is the meaning i find
now bear it well in mind

- randall thompson lyrics

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