The Barbarous Bird-gods: A Savage Parabasis Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBC D AEFEBGBGAHFHBFIFFJFJ KLMLFNONFLPLQLRSTSUU FLVFBFWUXUOYFYIY| In the Aves of Aristophanes the Bird Chorus declare that they are | A |
| older than the Gods and greater benefactors of men This idea | B |
| recurs in almost all savage mythologies and I have made the | B |
| savage Bird gods state their own case | C |
| - | |
| The Birds sing | D |
| - | |
| We would have you to wit that on eggs though we sit and are | A |
| spiked on the spit and are baked in the pan | E |
| Birds are older by far than your ancestors are and made love and | F |
| made war ere the making of Man | E |
| For when all things were dark not a glimmer nor spark and the | B |
| world like a barque without rudder or sail | G |
| Floated on through the night 'twas a Bird struck a light 'twas a | B |
| flash from the bright feather'd Tonatiu's tail | G |
| Then the Hawk with some dry wood flew up in the sky and afar | A |
| safe and high the Hawk lit Sun and Moon | H |
| And the Birds of the air they rejoiced everywhere and they recked | F |
| not of care that should come on them soon | H |
| For the Hawk so they tell was then known as Pundjel and a | B |
| musing he fell at the close of the day | F |
| Then he went on the quest as we thought of a nest with some | I |
| bark of the best and a clawful of clay | F |
| And with these did he frame two birds lacking a name without | F |
| feathers his game was a puzzle to all | J |
| Next around them he fluttered a dancing and muttered and | F |
| lastly he uttered a magical call | J |
| Then the figures of clay as they featherless lay they leaped up | K |
| who but they and embracing they fell | L |
| And THIS was the baking of Man and his making but now he's | M |
| forsaking his Father Pundjel | L |
| Now these creatures of mire they kept whining for fire and to | F |
| crown their desire who was found but the Wren | N |
| To the high heaven he came from the Sun stole he flame and for | O |
| this has a name in the memory of men | N |
| And in India who for the Soma juice flew and to men brought it | F |
| through without falter or fail | L |
| Why the Hawk 'twas again and great Indra to men would appear now | P |
| and then in the shape of a Quail | L |
| While the Thlinkeet's delight is the Bird of the Night the beak | Q |
| and the bright ebon plumage of Yehl | L |
| And who for man's need brought the famed Suttung's mead why 'tis | R |
| told in the creed of the Sagamen strong | S |
| 'Twas the Eagle god who brought the drink from the blue and gave | T |
| mortals the brew that's the fountain of song | S |
| Next who gave men their laws and what reason or cause the young | U |
| brave overawes when in need of a squaw | U |
| Till he thinks it a shame to wed one of his name and his conduct | F |
| you blame if he thus breaks the law | L |
| For you still hold it wrong if a lubra belong to the self | V |
| same kobong that is Father of you | F |
| To take HER as a bride to your ebony side nay you give her a | B |
| wide berth quite right of you too | F |
| For her father you know is YOUR father the Crow and no | W |
| blessing but woe from the wedding would spring | U |
| Well these rules they were made in the wattle gum shade and were | X |
| strictly obeyed when the Crow was the King | U |
| Thus on Earth's little ball to the Birds you owe all yet your | O |
| gratitude's small for the favours they've done | Y |
| And their feathers you pill and you eat them at will yes you | F |
| plunder and kill the bright birds one by one | Y |
| There's a price on their head and the Dodo is dead and the Moa | I |
| has fled from the sight of the sun | Y |
Andrew Lang
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