TO A SWALLOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 1958, 30 May 1889, Page 29

TO A SWALLOW.

(On teeing a servant demolishing its nest, when lti young were newly hatched). Wee hapless bird, where will ye rest Vert weary wing an' tremblin' breast } For you my heart is sair distressed, i i' My fellow oreature, Whs ruthless tore thy cosy neat, - ( May dule await hep, It was, nae doubt, wi' mickfe cftra, Te biggit yere bit bourock there," An' lmed it weel wi' woo' an' hair ; An' ohirp'd wi' pride When first yere mate, baith young and fair, Lay by yere side. The merlin's hame is on the tree, The laverock's on the fjowry l^a, The Untie lie* fu' cosily The whips amang ; But you, a hameless wierd, yell drie Jhe hale day lang. Oh I what a stound gaed thro* yere breast, When, wi' love-lowin' heart, yere nest Te sought at e'evin' fa' to nest An' hap yere brood, To find them on the grun downcast \ An' wailin' loud, Yere house, the wark o' mony an. hour. When simmer smiled on ilka flower, An' bees hummed 'mang ilk leafy bower Their droiain 1 sang ; To see it Jyjn' 'mang the Btour, Oh, what a pang 1 But could my feckless hand* repair The ruin that's been wrought ye there, And owre ye watch wi' tender care, I'djoyfu'doit; And a' yere griefs I'd gladly share, An' never rue it. But now, wee bird, the simmer's gane, An', dowie, ye maun flee alano ■ To ither lande au' mak' yere maen To yere compeers ; Tho' maybe yell come baok again ' In ither years. And in ray window neuk, I trow, I'll shield frae skaith yere dusky pow ; Hae reckless hand shall e'er, I vow, Disturb yere nest ; Ne'er shall ye wail as ye do now, Wi' grief oppress'd. Oh, birdiel dinnle think that,ye Exempt frae creature ills can be ; Like sorrows lioht on you an' me, When a' are o'er, Wi' gladsome wing like you I'll flee To sunnier shore. —John Q-. Smith. May 21.