Thomas Ross Jr.

This i saw with my own eyes a cliff-swallow
Made her nest in a hole of the bank
But when finished a snake crawled up to the nest
Whistling to the nest whistling

Then the mother swallow with swift flutterings
And shrill cries fought at the snake
Blinding him with the beat of her wings
Made him slipping
Made him slipping
Until he fell down the bank
And in the river was drowned
In the river was drowned

Only an hour was passed until a shrike
Made the mother impaled on a thorn
As i see for myself i know
No objection at all
No objection at all

As for myself i overcame
My lower nature
Only to be destroyed
By my brother's ambition

Then the mother swallow with swift flutterings
And shrill cries fought at the snake
Blinding him with the beat of her wings
Made him slipping made him slipping
Made him slipping made him slipping
And in the river was drowned
In the river was drowned