And beat the walls a muffled bang,

And stifle back and boom and bay

Like muffled peals on Boxing Day,

And then surge up and gather shape,

And spread great pinions and escape;

And each great bird of clanging shrieks

O Fire, Fire! from iron beaks.

My shoulders cracked to send around

Those shrieking birds made out of sound

With news of fire in their bills.