Night Swan, Night Swan
Fair and Lovely white
Perched atop the verandah
Where eager steps alight
When in your little pond
You quack and invite
Bird-watchers, nature-lovers
who in your down feathers delight
Strutting about,
Dancing your dances
In winter, rain or hail
Coquettish, vain
You avail
Compliments, admiration
From the whole mail
But
Night Swan, Night Swan
You forget,
Like other swans
You never took your pair
With enthusiasts many
But true-bird none
To you no one
Owes any real debt
and you never laid
any chicks e’en
Have you ever thought,
When cocks near you
You have none,
In you no longer
They find any fun
where from this palace top
Shall you alight?
Where brood till the day,
The world from you,
And you to the world,
Pass forever out of sight?
Afternoon
February 7, 2008
