 | A Flight of Fancies |  |
89
HILDA
Hilda remembers very well
Her feelings on that April morn
When, scrambling from a ruined shell,
Regulus Quack, her son, was born.
Her feelings on that April morn
When, scrambling from a ruined shell,
Regulus Quack, her son, was born.
Hilda, the hen, was petrified
(Within a little) when she saw
So much that seemed to stagger Pride,
As well as Justice, Hope, and Law.
(Within a little) when she saw
So much that seemed to stagger Pride,
As well as Justice, Hope, and Law.
Maternal hens, who love to hoard
Their eggs for several weary weeks,
Consider it a poor reward
If bills arrive instead of beaks.
Their eggs for several weary weeks,
Consider it a poor reward
If bills arrive instead of beaks.
She found it difficult to bless
A child without the standard nose,
And one—to add to her distress—
Deprived of regulation toes.
A child without the standard nose,
And one—to add to her distress—
Deprived of regulation toes.
But when she met the duckling's eyes,
And saw him give a tiny start
Of apprehension, or surprise,
She solved the mystery in her heart.
And saw him give a tiny start
Of apprehension, or surprise,
She solved the mystery in her heart.
90
At times a hen is just as quick
Of understanding as a cat;
And Hilda said, “A proper chick
Would never look at me like that.
Of understanding as a cat;
And Hilda said, “A proper chick
Would never look at me like that.
“I noticed how, on hearing cluck
The child was taken quite aback;
For being by descent a duck
He manifestly wanted quack.”
The child was taken quite aback;
For being by descent a duck
He manifestly wanted quack.”
Then Hilda, thinking it unkind
To scold, or make a silly fuss,
Began to do her best to find
A bit of love for Regulus.
To scold, or make a silly fuss,
Began to do her best to find
A bit of love for Regulus.
| A Flight of Fancies | |