WAYS OF NATURE 



ii 



Never plaintive nor appealing, 



Quite at home when thou art stealing, 



Always groomed to tip of feather, 

 Calm and trim in even weather, 



Morn till night my woods policing, 

 Even sound thy watch increasing. 



Hawk and owl in tree-top hiding 

 Feel the shame of thy deriding. 



Naught escapes thy observation, 

 None but dread thy accusation. 



Hunters, prowlers, woodland lovers 

 Vainly seek the leafy covers. 



in 



Noisy, scheming, and predacious, 

 With demeanor almost gracious, 



Dowered with leisure, void of hurry, 

 Void of fuss and void of worry, 



Friendly bandit, Robin Hood, 

 Judge and jury of the wood, 



Or Captain Kidd of sable quill, 

 Hiding treasures in the hill, 

 270 



