The Country Goes to Town

The Country walked to Town, and what did she find there?
Not a bird nor flower, the trees forsaken were;
The folk were walking two-and-two in every lane and street--
You scarce could hear your neighbour for the racket of their feet.

She could not see the sun shine for dust about the sky;
She could not hear the winds call, the walls went up so high;
And even when the night came to brush aside the day,
She found about the city they were driving it away.

"Then what have you got here?" the Country asked the Town.
"There's not a green leaf anywhere, the world is bleak and brown,
I haven't seen a red cheek nor heard a woman's laughter;
I'm going back to Bird Land, but won't you follow after?"

The Town rode to the Country, and what did she find there?
Just a lot of emptiness, with flowers everywhere.
The birds were screaming overhead, the sun was on her face,
The fences were untidy, and the brambles a disgrace.

"Then what have you got here?" the Town cried in her scorn.
"I haven't met a four-in-hand nor heard a motor horn.
It'll cost a pretty penny to restore my riding clothes,
While my beauty is nigh ruined for the freckles on my nose."

"What have I got here? Just azure hills and peace,
Green moss and green fern on roads that never cease.