This I saw with my own eyes a cliff-swallow

made her nest in a hole of the bank

but when finished a snake crawled up to the nest

whistling to the nest whistling


Then the mother swallow with swift flutterings

and shrill cries fought at the snake

blinding him with the beat of her wings

made him slipping

made him slipping

until he fell down the bank

and in the river was drowned

in the river was drowned


Only an hour was passed until a shrike

made the mother impaled on a thorn

as I see for myself I know

no objection at all

no objection at all


As for myself I overcame

my lower nature

only to be destroyed

by my brother's ambition


Then the mother swallow with swift flutterings

and shrill cries fought at the snake

blinding him with the beat of her wings

made him slipping made him slipping

made him slipping made him slipping

and in the river was drowned

in the river was drowned