The following poem on the entrance of The Entomological Society 
of London into its new home was specially written for the 
occasion by Professor Selwyn Image, M.A., and was read by 
the President at the General Meeting held on March 16, 1921. 
THE ENTRANCE OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
OF LONDON INTO ITS NEW HOME, Marcu 2, 1921 
Lone time in home not ours we’ve patient dwelt, 
Or vainly voiced those inmost yearnings felt 
For some far worthier site, at last our own, 
Where we might house thee, Mistress ; where atone 
For a dull world’s neglect, that passed thee by 
Alas! such ages with scant courtesy. 
Years gone thy servants made demand by right 
Of Powers that were to note thy straitened plight, 
And grant thee a refuge seemly, as might be 
A decorous shrine for service due to thee. 
O most insensate World, of eyesight blurred 
To Nature’s Truth and Beauty—jostling herd 
Of purblind fawners on but name or place— 
No more, thank Heaven, now need we pray your grace 
For our fair Mistress rest to find at length, 
And lead her votaries on from strength to strength. 
Nay, of themselves they’ve found, and founded well, 
A Home at last wherein she'll deign to dwell ! 
See, see, strait Winter yields to burgeoning Spring — 
Young flowers are born, fond birds awake to sing ! 
Yea, all but heard the cuckoo’s voice draws near, 
And far-fled swallows brood on hastening here : 
While heaven’s pale sky of tremulous blue takes on 
A tenderer glory from the lengthening sun, 
And Psyche-Forms of gold beneath his ray 
Roused from their sleep float up the greening way ! 
In such glad hour renascent lo! we come, 
Aurelian Brothers, to our new-found Home : 
What happier presage, say, could e’er there be 
Than Springtide’s greeting to our company ? 
Nor doubt but o’er us, though unseen, descend 
The hailing Spirits of full many a Friend 
Of years gone by. Great names their roll displays 
From that first list of pre-Victorian days 
Down to the last, whose loss we newly mourn, 
Rapt hence, yet sure to no unmindful bourne. 
