Won’t it be strange, when the nurse brings the new-born
infant
to the proud father, and shows its little, webbed greenish
feet
made to smite the waters behind it?
or the round, wild vivid eye of a wild-goose staring
out of fathomless skies and seas?
or when it utters that undaunted little bird-cry
of one who will settle on icebergs, and honk across the Nile?
—
And when the father says: This is none of
mine!
Woman, where got you this little beast? —
will there be a whistle of wings in the air, and an icy
draught?
will the singing of swans, high up, high up, invisible
break the drums of his ears
and leave him forever listening for the
answer?