9 APRIL 1942, Page 12

GIRL FROM BELOKRAJINA (Translated from the Slovene by Kenneth Matthews)

Moonshine in the birch-wood ; And see! where the young trees part, The white fairies come riding, Each on a white horse gliding, Holding a babe to her heart.

Each a lullaby sings ; Each rocks her babe to rest-: "0 sleep, little unborn son, Sleep softly at my breast ! "

Waifs, naked, God-forgotten, Unborn and unbegotten, For their own mothers they cry ; A fairy's nipples are dry . . . .

My love's in a foreign land ; Loving him, God knows who. I in my doorway stand ; And no knitting to do.