A Birthday

My heart is like a singing bird

    Whose nest is in a watered shoot;

My heart is like an apple-tree

    Whose boughs are bent with thickest fruit;

My heart is like a rainbow shell

    That paddles in a halcyon sea;

My heart is gladder than all these

    Because my love is come to me.

Raise me a dais of silk and down;

    Hang it with vair and purple dyes; [10]

Carve it in doves, and pomegranates,

    And peacocks with a hundred eyes;

Work it in gold and silver grapes,

    In leaves, and silver fleurs-de-lys;

Because the birthday of my life

    Is come, my love is come to me.