To a Bat in Daylight

You tiny Mephistopheles
Of prick-up ears and leathern wings,
What make you here in hours like these?
The sun is bright, the robin sings;
The time for flittermice to fly
Is when the dusk bedims the sky.

But like a little bobtail bird
In flaming noon you dart and soar;
It is n’t right, upon my word!
Did ever bat do thus before?
Back to your hole, you impish elf,
And by your heels go hang yourself!

Yet, after starlit nestling-time
Of swallow, oriole and wren,
As tree toads trill and crickets chime
Like distant sleighbells, dance again
Your diabolic rigadoon
Across a disapproving moon!