Los Angeles Daily Herald

[Written for the Herald.]
THE SWALLOW
Little swallows flitting
Out and in,
Innocent, unwitting
Aught of sin.
Could I be as light of heart and free,
Would I were a swallow too, with thee,
Flitting,
Flitting
Out and In,
Innocent, unwitting aught of sin.
Mud-dauber nest dependent
From the wall,
Where the sun resplendent
Makes his call:
Man could pattern from your simple art,
Letting sunshine into home and heart,
Humble,
Happy,
Pattern for us all—
Mud-dauber nest dependent from the wall
Every want provided—
Frugal care
Jostles all divided
By the pair!
Sharing each in turn the toil and rest,
Side by side at night upon the nest;
Love
And labor,
Equal joy and care,
Jostles all divided by the pair.
Other birds more costly
To the sight—
Sober coat and homely—
Brown and white;
Is the heart more joyful made or less,
Bird or man more worthy for the dress?
Plain
Or gay,
Nor changes the delight,
Sober coat and homely, brown and white,
Slight your wealth and pleasure
At the best;
Live small eggs your treasure
In the nest:
Skimming swiftly through the upper air,
Such your recreation past compare;
Wealth,
And joy!
Oh, swallows truly blest!
Live small eggs your treasure in the nest.
Sweeter song, and fitter
Other's note.—
Yours a simple twitter,
From the throat;
Envy you the fulsome, merry song,
While your single note you thus prolong?
Peace,
Content!
Ambitionless your lot—
Yours a simple twitter—envy not,
Careless of the morrow
Evermore;
Know you what a sorrow
Is in store?
Ruthless hand another morn will come,
Making desolate your happy home.
Ruined,
Desolate—
A home no more:
Know you what a sorrow is in store?
Nest all torn and battered—
Ruin done;
Five small eggs all scattered,
Every one:
With your heart within you sick at last,
Looking o'er the ruin of the past:
Cheerless,
Homeless,
Hopelessly undone
Five small eggs all scattered, every one,
Freely word regretting
What is done—
Ere the sun's next setting,
Work begun:
Soon another nest with precious
Other five within it as before,
Brave,
Courageous,
Noble little one!
Ere the sun's next setting, work begun
Now in joy unceasing,
And in peace,
May your tribe increasing
Still decrease:
And the happy home more happy!
From the spoiler's hand forever free
Garden,
Guiless,
Living aye in peace—
May your tribe increasing still increase
Little swallows, flitting
Out and in,
Innocent, unwitting
Aught of sin.
Could I be as light of heart and free,
Would I were a swallow too with thee
Flitting,
Flitting
Out and in,
Innocent, unwitting aught of sin.