Swans

Once I saw a white swan swim
Who as she swam did quaintly sing
As sweet a song as swan can sing
While churchly bells did faintly ring.

And by her side four cygnets swam
Like little royal partisans
And as they drifted, so they sang
As loyally as subjects can.

Paddling thus they all processed
Up the stream (they did their best)
In vain to search from east to west
Between the reeds their evening nest.

But river flowed from west to east
'Gainst all the odds their wearied feet
Did fail, but not their hearts which wrung
With longing sung like evening song.