Mary Howitt: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Humming-Bird

Mary Howitt

“The Humming-Bird” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Mary Howitt: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

The humming-bird, the humming-bird,

So fairy-like and bright,

It lives among the sunny flow'rs,

A creature of delight;

In radiant islands of the East,

Where fragrant spices grow,

A thousand thousand humming-birds

Go glancing to and fro.

Verse 2

Like living fires they flit about

Scarce larger than a bee,

Among the broad palmetto leaves,

And through the fan palm-tree.

And in the wild and verdant woods

Where lofty moras tower;

Where hangs from branching tree to tree

The stately passion-flow'r.

Verse 3

Thou happy happy humming-bird,

No storms around thee low'r;

Thou never saw'st a leafless tree,

Nor land without a flow'r.

A reign of summer joyfulness

To thee for life is given;

Thy food the honey from the flow'r,

Thy drink the dew from heaven.

Credits

Written by Mary Howitt

Words by Mary Howitt. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “The Humming-Bird”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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