THOU who guidest the swallow and wren, <br />Keep the paths of the flying men! <br /> <br />Over the mountains, over the seas <br />Thou hast given the bird-folk compasses. <br /> <br />Thou guidest them, yea, Thou leadest them home <br />By the trackless ways and the venturesome. <br /> <br />Look Thou then on these bird-men, far <br />More than the sparrows and swallows are. <br /> <br />When they fly in the wintry weather <br />Be their compass and chart together. <br /> <br />Keep them riding the wind. Uphold <br />Their passion of flight lest it grow cold. <br /> <br />Thy right hand be under the wing, <br />Thy left hand for their steadying. <br /> <br />The Wings of the birds of Heaven be nigh <br />Lest their wings fail them and they die. <br /> <br />Make Thou their flying as deft and fleet <br />As the flight of the linnet or the blue-tit. <br /> <br />Thy hand over them, shall they fear <br />The spears of lightning or any spear? <br /> <br />Thy hand under them, what shall appal? <br />Not the fierce foe nor the sudden fall. <br /> <br />Show them Thy moon at night: Thy stars <br />Bid stand as sentinels in their wars. <br /> <br />Yea, make their lone tracks pleasant as <br />A soft meandering path in grass. <br /> <br />Thou that launchest the wren, the swallow <br />Guard our flying loves when they follow.<br /><br />Katharine Tynan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-the-airmen/
