a prompt—executive bird is the jay

by emily dickinson

a prompt—executive bird is the jay—
bold as a bailiff's1 hymn—
brittle and brief in quality—
warrant2 in every line—

sitting a bough3 like a brigadier4
confident and straight—
much is the mien5 of him in march
as a magistrate6—

1.legal officer
2.legal action
3.branch of a tree
4.army officer (british)
5.appearance
6.judge

i heard a bird sing

by oliver herford

i heard a bird sing
in the dark of december.
a magical thing
and sweet to remember.

"we are nearer to spring
than we were in september,”
i heard a bird sing
in the dark of december.

review the two poems.

the topic is the same in both poems, but how is the tone different?