On the Wing.
Sweet Summer’s dead ! Ah, ye south-steering swallows,1
Hath the day come then for saying Good-bye ?2
Fly, then, ye roving crew !3
What ! will no one of you4
Stay to brave Winter through ?5
Neither would I !6
Sweet was the song, Singer, just as you sang it once ;7
Smiles to the lip you brought, tears to the eye ;8
“ Sing, sing again,” we sighed,9
Lightly you turned aside,10
“ Wise little witch ! ” I cried,11
Neither would I !12
Pass round the tankard, boys, while the tap flows for ye,13
Mad, merry hearts, let the foaming jest fly !14
Out in Life’s burning sun,15
Man, with a man’s work done,16
Would not have missed the fun,17
Neither would I !18
How ! is the revel done? Bedtime already, Nurse ?19
Aye, Sonnie, now comes the sweet hush-a-bye !20
Cool the fresh pillow lies,21
He that shuts weary eyes22
Would not sleep otherwise,23
Neither would I !24