John Keats

Song (“I had a dove and the sweet dove died”)

I had a dove and the sweet dove died;
   And I have thought it died of grieving:
O, what could it grieve for? Its feet were tied,
   With a silken thread of my own hand's weaving;
Sweet little red feet! why should you die—
Why should you leave me, sweet bird! why?
You lived alone in the forest-tree,
Why, pretty thing! would you not live with me?
I kiss'd you oft and gave you white peas;
Why not live sweetly, as in the green trees?