The Swallow

Daughter of Pandion, lovely Swallow that veers at my window, Swift on the flood of the sunshine Darting thy shadow;

What is thy innocent purpose, Why dost thou hover and haunt me? Is it a kinship of sorrow Brings thee anear me?

Must thou forever be tongueless, Flying in fear of Tereus? Must he for Itys pursue thee, Changed to a lapwing?

Tireless of pinion and never Resting on bush or the branches, Close to the earth, up the azure, Over the treetops;

After thy wing in its madness Follows my glance, as a flitting Child on the track of its mother Hastens in silence.

Daughter of Pandion, lovely Swallow that veers at my window, Hast thou a message from Cyprus Telling of Phaon?

TIDINGS

She wrapped herself in linen woven close, Stuffs delicate and texture-fine as those The dark Nile traders for our bartering From Egypt, Crete and far Phocea bring.

Love lent her feet the wings of winds to reach (Whose steps stir not the shingle of the beach) My marble court and, breathless, bid me know My lover’s sails across the harbor blow.

He seemed to her, as to himself he seems, Like some bright God long treasured in her dreams; She saw him standing at his galley’s prow-- My Phaon, mine, in Mitylene now!