Page:Flower of youth, poems in war time, Tynan, 1915.djvu/68

66 FOR THE AIRMEN

(To )

who guides! the swallow and wren,

Keep the paths of the flying men!

Over the mountains, over the seas

Thou hast given the bird-folk compasses.

Thou guidest them, yea, Thou leadest them home

By the trackless ways and the venturesome.

Look Thou then on these bird-men, far

More than the sparrows and swallows are.

When they fly in the wintry weather

Be their compass and chart together.

Keep them riding the wind. Uphold

Their passion of flight lest it grow cold.

Thy right hand be under the wing,

Thy left hand for their steadying.