The spirit of the hummingbird Hovers in the shade Blinded by the spider's web That glitters newly made The stillness of the hummingbird Betrays her beating wings She is silent in the darkest hour But bell-like when she sings The sweetness of the hummingbird Is nectar to my lips The brush-tipped tongue; her silent smile Commands her claws and whips Come with me Come with me The race is almost run Tenacious is the hummingbird Among the jewelweed Her deeply-forked and blue-black tail Is quick to gather speed My Lucifer of hummingbirds Steals among the thieves Bathing in scattered trees Clutching to wet leaves The collar of the hummingbird Is bright as fresh spilled blood She leads me to the water's edge Reddened by the flood Come with me Come with me The race is almost run The set aside of many years The soft taillight of evening nears My solitary friend appears To circle round the sun