A Bird Came Down the Concrete Path

A bird came down the concrete path: 
He did not know I saw—
He bit an earth-worm in clean halves 
And ate the brother, raw.

And then he drank dew,
From a dismal blade of grass, 
And then hopped sidewise to you 
To let a caterpillar pass.

He glanced with keen eyes 
That wanted to be fed—
They looked like frightened beads, I thought? 
He steered his burgundy head

Like one in danger—cautious, 
I offered him a crumb, 
He unrolled his feathers with a look to make you nauseous— 
Then he flew with a swagger so numb

That divided the Red Sea in matters too soon? 
Too clear for a day, 
Or butterflies, off banks of noon, 
Leap, sway, as they swim with a fine notion to say.