Poems (Piatt)/Volume 2/The Watch of a Swan
THE WATCH OF A SWAN.
I read somewhere that a swan, snow-white, In the sun all day, in the moon all night,Alone by a little grave would sit Waiting, and watching it.
Up out of the lake her mate would rise, And call her down with his piteous criesInto the waters still and dim;—With cries she would answer him.
Hardly a shadow would she let passOver the baby's cover of grass;Only the wind might dare to stir The lily that watched with her.
Do I think that the swan was an angel? Oh,I think it was only a swan, you know,That for some sweet reason, wingéd and wild, Had the love of a bird for a child.