Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/586

 The waters shall not reckon twice

For any work of man's device,

But bid it down to the lowlands, lowlands,

Lowlands under the hills!

The floods shall sweep corruption clean—

By the hills, the blessing of the hills—

That more the meadows may be green

New-mended from the hills.

The crops and cattle shall increase,

Nor little childern shall not cease.

Go—plough the lowlands, lowlands,

Lowlands under the hills!



(Spring begins in Southern England on the 14th April, on which date the Old Woman lets the Cuckoo out of her basket at Heathfield Fair—locally known as Heffle Cuckoo Fair.)

it to the locked-up trees,

Cuckoo, bring your song here!

Warrant, Act and Summons, please,

For Spring to pass along here!

Tell old Winter, if he doubt,

Tell him squat and square—a!

Old Woman!

Old Woman!

Old Woman's let the Cuckoo out

At Heffle Cuckoo Fair—a!

March has searched and April tried—

'Tisn't long to May now.

Not so far to Whitsuntide

And Cuckoo's come to stay now! 