This i saw with my own eyes a cliff-swallow Made her nest in a hole of the bank But when finished a snake crawled up to the nest Whistling to the nest whistling
Then the mother swallow with swift flutterings And shrill cries fought at the snake Blinding him with the beat of her wings Made him slipping Made him slipping Until he fell down the bank And in the river was drowned In the river was drowned
Only an hour was passed until a shrike Made the mother impaled on a thorn As i see for myself i know No objection at all No objection at all
As for myself i overcame My lower nature Only to be destroyed By my brother's ambition
Then the mother swallow with swift flutterings And shrill cries fought at the snake Blinding him with the beat of her wings Made him slipping made him slipping Made him slipping made him slipping And in the river was drowned In the river was drowned
