Poetry
This Machine Age [" Twenty thousand swallows were carried free at noon to-day to Venice by the Austrian Air Transport Company, lodged in cases specially constructed by the Society. They were brought to the aeroplane in heated cars. To-morrow, if the weather is favourable, ,twenty-three thousand more will leave by aeroplane."--Sunday Paver.] SWALLOW, my sister, 0 sister Swallow, Now, when the sterling must sway and swing, And never, no never, the pound be fled— Now, when the patriot's purse is hollow, Should you abandon each cheap bright wing And travel by aeroplane instead ?
Sycophant Swallow, 0 sister Swallow,
Heard you the message from SNOWDEN'S mouth ? Know you the Dole and the Dolorous Debt ? And have you the conscience still to follow The feckless fancy that calls you South— South, with your longings and wander-fret ?
Swallow, my sister, redundant Swallow, You who have pinions to bear you south, Dare charter wings and not pay the hire, Dare travel in truth like the rich Apollo,
You who have mud in your spring-time mouth—
The mud for your nest in an English byre.
Pioneer Swallow, my sister Swallow,
Will you travel by train de luxe next Spring ? Will gulls take passage from Deal or Dover ? Will snipe and woodcock in Puss-Moths follow The call of their pulses with folded wing ?
Will even the lark be an arm-chair rover ?
0 Swallow, sister, machine-age Swallow, You have been gone since young September, I shall be here in the fog and wet ; Think of the horrible months to follow I cannot forget that all through September I have been hearing about the Debt.
Sister, my Swallow, I think it's rotten !
My heart sighs " South ! " but I may not follow You to the lands where the sun shines yet, Where Dole and Dolour may be forgotten.
Some things are terribly hard to swallow ; Forgive these lines that were writ in a pet !
BARBARA EUPHAN TODD.
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