Down comes rain drop, bubble follows; On the house-top one by one Flock the synagogue of swallows, Met to vote that autumns gone. Theophile GautierLife, a Bubble. A Birds-Eye View Thereof.
But, as old Swedish legends say, Of all the birds upon that day, The swallow felt the deepest grief, And longed to give her Lord relief, And chirped when any near would come, Hugswala swala swal honom! Meaning, as they who tell it deem, Oh, cool, oh, cool and comfort Him! LelandThe Swallow.
The swallow is come! The swallow is come! O, fair are the seasons, and light Are the days that she brings, With her dusky wings, And her bosom snowy white! LongfellowHyperion. Bk. II. Ch. I.
Its surely summer, for theres a swallow: Come one swallow, his mate will follow, The bird rare quicken and wheel and thicken. Christina G. RossettiA Bird Song. St. 2.
There goes the swallow, Could we but follow! Hasty swallow, stay, Point us out the way; Look back swallow, turn back swallow, stop swallow. Christina G. RossettiSongs in a Cornfield. St. 7.
When autumn scatters his departing gleams, Warnd of approaching winter, gatherd, play The swallow-people; and tossd wide around, Oer the calm sky, in convolution swift, The featherd eddy floats; rejoicing once, Ere to their wintry slumbers they retire. ThomsonSeasons. Autumn. L. 836.