I. <br /> <br />Thou dread, uncanny thing, <br />With fuzzy breast and leathern wing, <br />In mad, zigzagging flight, <br />Notching the dusk, and buffeting <br />The black cheeks of the night, <br />With grim delight! <br /> <br />II. <br /> <br />What witch's hand unhasps <br />Thy keen claw-cornered wings <br />From under the barn roof, and flings <br />Thee forth, with chattering gasps, <br />To scud the air, <br />And nip the lady-bug, and tear <br />Her children's hearts out unaware? <br /> <br />III. <br /> <br />The glow-worm's glimmer, and the bright, <br />Sad pulsings of the fire-fly's light, <br />Are banquet lights to thee. <br />O less than bird, and worse than beast, <br />Thou Devil's self, or brat, at least, <br />Grate not thy teeth at me!<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-bat-4/
