The swallows are back, and I’m tuning my lyre,
For today ’tis my duty to sing
A melodious lay that is graciously gay
To welcome — officially — spring —
Ting-a-ling —
So let’s have a song with a swing.
Bing!
High cockalorum and fal-de-rah, whack!
Young Spring’s in the offing! The swallows are back!
To put sense in the song matters little so long
As the lift and the lilt of it ring.
And a mention be made of the wattle-hung glade
Where the blithering birds are a-wing —
Ting-a-ling —
And the clamorous honey-bees cling.
Z-z-z-ing!
Tho’ I’m scarce in the humor, alas and alack!
Ho, merry-down-derry! The swallows are back!
So — officially — Hi! Oh, salubrious sky!
What a dear and delectable thing
To behold such a blue as old Arcady knew
When — er — Strephan or someone was king —
Ting-a-ling —
And life held nor arrow nor sling.
Ping!
Ah, the fervor is forced; but I mustn’t get slack,
Tho’ the rhymes may run low, for the swallows are back!
But — privily — oh, my vitality’s low,
And a sneer at the season I fling —
For I gasp and I wheeze in the weary unease
Of the plagues that the pollen days bring —
Ting-a-ling —
I’m insipid as second-hand string.
Ring.
Ah, ring down the curtain! I’ve gone to the pack!
But, a last word in closing: the swallows are back.
(C J Dennis)
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Based on Topics: Youth Poems, Birds Poems, Jokes & Humor PoemsBased on Keywords: honey-bees, salubrious, offing, wheeze, second-hand, unease, delectable, insipid, a-wing, bing, ping