2 3 8 PROSERPINE'S MESSAGE 

 One night, in the quiet starlight, they 

 disappeared, speeding down the silver stain 

 of the Milky Way towards the big lantern 

 star Formalhaut. Did they flee the coming 

 of the spring goddess ? Other things 

 have welcomed her. The lesser celandine 

 flowers are in the hedge-banks, the sorrel 

 is rising, the wild arum will shortly show 

 its purple club in the green sheath, pink 

 campion is blooming. Proserpine, the 

 goddess of spring, has returned to see how 

 her children are faring ; and a little child - 

 god is in her arms. With her, too, is the 

 spirit of the apple blossom, symbolling 

 felicity, whispered to me by those fairy 

 heralds, the goldfinches; the loved swallows 

 have not waited to see her. Again I wonder 

 to myself if the penalty of meeting an 

 Immortal is death. Dear swallows, already 

 they brave much during their migrations 

 the storms, the waves, and the electric wires 

 erected by a debased portion of humanity 

 along their airlines. 



