Thou Swallow

Thou Swallow, you fly within my breadth,
And I ponder,---twice yonder you swoon,---
The curse which shall soon descend upon me.
Yet, thou hast caused my foot to stir
And my ambling to tarry,
So that the carriage which was at my back
Was saved from the other one careening down Front Street.
So, by thy shrill warnings, thou hast caused me to be a blessing
Upon some stranger I nary knew.
For, by spying me, a pedestrian on her port side,
It left just enough time to see the other car
Which travelled at twenty-five knots.
Had I not been there, I know not---
 Perhaps it would have rent her asunder.
I see no other way... but by providence's hand
I walk with blessing, and what would be a curse is turned.