IN PRAISE OF GARDENS 



Give me back the leafless woodlands where the 



winds of Springtime range 

 Give me back one day in England for it's 

 Spring in England now! 



Through the pines the gusts are blooming, o'er 



the brown fields blowing chill; 

 From the furrow of the ploughshare streams 



the fragrance of the loam; 

 And the hawk nests on the cliff-side and the 



jackdaw in the hill 



And my heart is back in England 'mid the 

 sight and sounds of Home. 



But the garland of the sacrifice this wealth of 



rose and peach is; 



Ah ! koil, little koil, singing on the siris bough. 

 In my ears the knell of exile your ceaseless bell- 



like speech is 



Can you tell me aught of England, or of 

 Spring in England now? 



RUDYARD KIPLING. 

 Departmental Ditties. 



[140] 



