26 JANUARY 1929, Page 22

Poetry

The Hope of a Caged Lark

(To M. A.) ONCE I sprang from emerald grass Straight to a sapphire sky.

Now am I caged ; My feet are on a mournful turf, My head's pressed near a board, And all day long I seek the door. As I must live, so must I breathe, And as I breathe, I sing ;

I sing of all my lonely grief, Of the blue sky I cannot mount, And I am wild with panic fear. The door will soon be open wide And I shall once again be free When I can fly no more.

But I will fly on spirit wings And like a dart I'll go ; As shooting stars fall straight to earth So will I upward flash.

I'll fly high up in Heaven's dome Singing a song in ecstasy, As no bird sang before.

The Seraphini will cease their cry, And the angels will kneel down, And God shall silence all the' birds To hear my song• . . .

Then I will drop upon His knees And tell Him all my earthly griefs, • And He will stroke my feathers down, And He will weep celestially !

He'll take me in His mighty hands And press me gently to His heart; And I shall see the secrets there - As through a crystal glass. HELEN TUORP.