VAGRANT VERSE

Southland Times, Issue 18810, 1 May 1920, Page 4

VAGRANT VERSE

THE RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS. “Out in the meadows the young gr—springs, Shivering with sap,” said the larks, “&a4 we Shoot into air with our strong young Spirally up over level and lea; Come, O Swallows, and fly with us Now that horizons are luminous! Evening and morning the world of itghfc Spreading and kindling, is infinite?” Far away, by the sea in the south. The hills of olive and slopes of fern Whiten and glow in the sun’s long Under the heavens that beam and bora; And all the swallows were gathered then Fhtting about in the fragrant air, And heard no sound from the larks, but flew Flashing under the blinding blue. Out of the depths of their soft rich tbroata Languidly fluted the thrushes, and said, . . . “Come, 0 Swallows, and stir the air, For the buds are all bursting unaware, And the drooping eaves and the ebwtrees long To hear the sound of your low sweat song.” Ora the roofs of the white Algiers, Flashingly shadowing the bright bazaar. Flitted the swallows, and not one hears The call of the thrushes from far, front far. . . . But just when the dingles of April flowers Shine with the earliest daffodils, When, before sunrise, the cold clear hours Gleam with a promise that noon fulfils—« Deep in the leafage the cuckoo cried. Perched on a spray by a rivulet-ade, “Swallows, O Swallows, come back To swoop and herald the April rain.” And something awoke in the slumbering heart Of the alien birds in their African air. And they paused, and alighted, and twittered apart, And met in the broad white dreamy square. ... —Edmund j