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A Child's Garden Of Verses
By
Robert Louis Stevenson
Contents
Nothing has ever been written that appeals to a
child's nature more than "A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES." It is writ=
ten
in a simple verse that a child can readily understand. It was one of the
earlier efforts of the author, Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scotchman by birth,
who, owing to ill-health, became a world traveler. During his travels he vi=
sited
the United States, spending a year among our famous resorts. Later he visit=
ed Australia
and the South Sea Islands, which climate agreed with him to such an extent =
that
he finally settled down and made his home on the island of Samoa. He contin=
ued
his travels from that point, often visiting the Hawaiian Islands, Australia=
and
New Zealand. He formed a strong friendship for the natives of Samoa, and di=
d a
great deal to improve their conditions. He died on the island, and at his o=
wn
request was buried on the top of one of its beautiful mountains, with the
following lines upon his tomb:
&=
nbsp;
Here he lies, where he longed to be; Home is the Sailo=
r,
home from the sea, And the hunter ho=
me
from the hill.
=
CONTENTS
BED IN SUMMER
YOUNG NIGHT THOUGHT
PIRATE STORY
FAREWELL TO THE FARM
THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE
FAIRY BREAD
ESCAPE AT BEDTIME
A GOOD PLAY
MARCHING SONG
WHERE GO THE BOATS
THE HAYLOFT
AUNTIE'S SKIRTS
THE MOON
THE COW
FOREIGN LANDS
SYSTEM
AT THE SEASIDE
HAPPY THOUGHT
THE LAND OF NOD
WINDY NIGHTS
TIME TO RISE
RAIN
FOREIGN CHILDREN
LOOKING FORWARD
MY SHADOW
THE SUN'S TRAVELS
LOOKING-GLASS RIVER
THE LAMPLIGHTER
SINGING
TRAVEL
MY BED IS A BOAT
KEEPSAKE MILL
THE UNSEEN PLAYMATE
MY SHIP AND I
THE WIND
A GOOD BOY
GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN
PICTURE-BOOKS IN WINTER
THE SWING
A THOUGHT
ARMIES IN THE FIRE
MY KINGDOM
SHADOW MARCH
WINTER-TIME
THE LITTLE LAND
IN PORT
NIGHT AND DAY
NEST EGGS
THE FLOWERS
FROM A RAILWAY CARRIAGE
MY TREASURES
BLOCK CITY
THE GARDENER
A
CHILD'S GARDEN of VERSES
=
In winter I get up at =
night,
And dress by
yellow candle light. In summer quite t=
he
other way, =
I have
to go to bed by day.
=
I have to go to bed and see =
The birds still h=
opping
on the tree, Or
hear the grown-up people's feet, Still going past =
me in
the street.
=
And does it not seem h=
ard to
you, When a=
ll the
sky is clear and blue, And I should like=
so much
to play, To=
have
to go to bed by day?
=
YOUNG
NIGHT THOUGHT
=
All night long and eve=
ry
night, When=
my
mamma puts out the light I see the people
marching by, As
plain as day, before my eye.
&=
nbsp;
Armies and emperors and kings, All carrying diff=
erent
kinds of things, And marching in so
grand a way, You
never saw the like by day.
&=
nbsp;
So fine a show was never seen At the great circ=
us on
the green; =
For
every kind beast and man Is marching in th=
at
caravan.
&=
nbsp;
At first they move a little slow, But still the fas=
ter on
they go, And
still beside them close I keep Until we reach th=
e Town
of Sleep.
=
Three of us afloat in =
the
meadow by the swing. Three of us aboar=
d in
the basket on the lea. Winds are in the =
air,
they are blowing in the spring, And waves are on =
the
meadow like the waves there are at sea.
&=
nbsp;
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat, Wary =
of the
weather and steering by a star? Shall it be to Af=
rica,
a-steering of the boat, To
Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
&=
nbsp;
Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea-- Cattl=
e on
the meadow a-charging with a roar! Quick, and we'll =
escape
them, they're as mad as they can be, The wicket is the harbor and =
the
garden is the shore.
=
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-fa=
reast-font-family:
Calibri'>FAREWELL TO THE FARM<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-fa=
reast-font-family:
Calibri'>
=
The coach is at the do=
or at
last; The e=
ager
children, mounting fast And kissing hands=
, in
chorus sing: Good-bye, good-by=
e, to
everything!
&=
nbsp;
To house and garden, field and lawn, The meadow-gates =
we
swung upon, To
pump and stable, tree and swing, Good-bye, good-by=
e, to
everything!
&=
nbsp;
And fare you well for evermore, O ladder at the h=
ayloft
door, O hay=
loft
where the cobwebs cling, Good-bye, good-by=
e, to
everything!
&=
nbsp;
Crack goes the whip, and off we go; The trees and hou=
ses
smaller grow; Last, round the w=
oody
turn we swing: Good-bye, good-by=
e, to
everything!
=
When I was sick and lay
a-bed, I had two pillows at my head, And all my toys b=
eside
me lay To k=
eep me
happy all the day.
&=
nbsp;
And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my lead=
en
soldiers go, With
different uniforms and drills, Among the bed-clo=
thes,
through the hills.
&=
nbsp;
And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down a=
mong
the sheets; Or
brought my trees and houses out, And planted citie=
s all
about.
&=
nbsp;
I was the giant great and still That sits upon the
pillow-hill, And
sees before him, dale and plain The pleasant Land=
of
Counterpane.
=
Come up here, O dusty =
feet! Here =
is
fairy bread to eat
&=
nbsp;
Here in my retiring room, Child=
ren,
you may dine
&=
nbsp;
On the golden smell of broom And t=
he
shade of pine
&=
nbsp;
And when you have eaten well, Fairy
stories hear and tell.
=
The lights from the pa=
rlor
and kitchen shone out Throu=
gh the
blinds and the windows and bars; And high over hea=
d and
all moving about, There=
were
thousands of millions of stars. There ne'er were =
such
thousands of leaves on a tree, Nor of
people in church or the Park, As the crowds of =
the
stars that looked down upon me, And t=
hat
glittered and winked in the dark.
&=
nbsp;
The Dog, and the Plough, and the Hunter and all, And t=
he
star of the sailor, and Mars, These shone in th=
e sky,
and the pail by the wall Would=
be
half full of water and stars. They saw me at la=
st,
and they chased me with cries, And t=
hey
soon had me packed into bed; But the glory kept
shining and bright in my eyes, And the stars goi=
ng
round in my head.
=
=
We built a ship upon t=
he
stairs All =
made
of the back-bedroom chairs, And filled it ful=
l of
sofa pillows To
go a-sailing on the billows.
&=
nbsp;
We took a saw and several nails, And water in the
nursery pails; And Tom said, &qu=
ot;Let
us also take An
apple and a slice of cake;"-- Which was enough =
for
Tom and me =
To go
a-sailing on, till tea.
&=
nbsp;
We sailed along for days and days, And had the very =
best
of plays; B=
ut Tom
fell out and hurt his knee, So there was no o=
ne
left but me.
=
Bring the comb and pla=
y upon
it! March=
ing,
here we come! Willie cocks his
highland bonnet, Johnn=
ie
beats the drum.
&=
nbsp;
Mary Jane commands the party, Peter=
leads
the rear; F=
eet in
time, alert and hearty, Each a
Grenadier!
&=
nbsp;
All in the most martial manner March=
ing
double-quick; While the napkin =
like a
banner Waves upon the stick!
&=
nbsp;
Here's enough of fame and pillage, Great
commander Jane! Now that we've be=
en
round the village, Let's=
go
home again.
=
Dark brown is the rive=
r, =
Golden
is the sand. It
flows along for ever, =
With
trees on either hand.
&=
nbsp;
Green leaves a-floating, =
Castles
of the foam, Boats of mine
a-boating-- =
Where
will all come home?
&=
nbsp;
On goes the river =
And
out past the mill, Away down the val=
ley, Away
down the hill.
&=
nbsp;
Away down the river, =
A
hundred miles or more, Other little chil=
dren =
Shall
bring my boats ashore.
=
Through all the pleasa=
nt
meadow-side The g=
rass
grew shoulder-high, Till the shining
scythes went far and wide And c=
ut it
down to dry.
&=
nbsp;
These green and sweetly smelling crops They =
led in
wagons home; And
they piled them here in mountain-tops For
mountaineers to roam.
&=
nbsp;
Here is Mount Clear, Mount Rusty-Nail, Mount=
Eagle
and Mount High;-- The mice that in =
these
mountains dwell, No ha=
ppier
are than I!
&=
nbsp;
O what a joy to clamber there, O wha=
t a
place for play, With the sweet, t=
he
dim, the dusty air, The h=
appy
hills of hay!
=
Whenever Auntie moves =
around
Her
dresses make a curious sound. They trail behind=
her
up the floor, And t=
rundle
after through the door.
=
The moon has a face li=
ke the
clock in the hall; She shines on thi=
eves
on the garden wall, On streets and fi=
elds
and harbor quays, And birdies aslee=
p in
the forks of the trees.
&=
nbsp;
The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse, The howling dog b=
y the
door of the house, The bat that lies=
in
bed at noon, All love to be out by the lig=
ht of
the moon.
&=
nbsp;
But all of the things that belong to the day Cuddle to sleep t=
o be
out of her way; And flowers and
children close their eyes Till up in the mo=
rning
the sun shall rise.
=
The friendly cow all r=
ed and
white, =
I
love with all my heart: She gives me crea=
m with
all her might, =
To
eat with apple-tart.
&=
nbsp;
She wanders lowing here and there, =
And
yet she cannot stray, All in the pleasa=
nt
open air, =
The
pleasant light of day.
&=
nbsp;
And blown by all the winds that pass =
And
wet with all the showers, She walks among t=
he
meadow grass =
And
eats the meadow flowers.
=
=
Up into the cherry tre=
e Who should climb =
but
little me? =
I held
the trunk with both my hands And looked abroad=
on
foreign lands.
&=
nbsp;
I saw the next door garden lie, Adorned with flow=
ers,
before my eye, And many pleasant
places more That
I had never seen before.
&=
nbsp;
I saw the dimpling river pass And be the sky's =
blue
looking-glass; The dusty roads g=
o up
and down Wi=
th
people tramping into town.
&=
nbsp;
If I could find a higher tree Farther and farth=
er I
should see, To
where the grown-up river slips Into the sea amon=
g the
ships.
&=
nbsp;
To where the roads on either hand Lead onward into =
fairy
land, Where=
all
the children dine at five, And all the playt=
hings
come alive.
=
Every night my prayers=
I
say, And ge=
t my
dinner every day; And every day tha=
t I've
been good I=
get
an orange after food.
&=
nbsp;
The child that is not clean and neat, With lots of toys=
and
things to eat, He
is a naughty child, I'm sure-- Or else his dear =
papa
is poor.
=
When I was down beside=
the
sea, A wood=
en
spade they gave to me To di=
g the
sandy shore. My
holes were hollow like a cup, In every hole the=
sea
came up, Till =
it
could hold no more.
=
=
The world is so full o=
f a
number of things, I'm sure we shoul=
d all
be as happy as kings
=
From breakfast on thro=
ugh
all the day At
home among my friends I stay, But every night I=
go
abroad Afar=
into
the Land of Nod.
&=
nbsp;
All by myself I have to go, With none to tell=
me
what to do-- All
alone beside the streams And up the
mountain-sides of dreams.
&=
nbsp;
The strangest things are there for me, Both things to ea=
t and
things to see, And many frighten=
ing
sights abroad Till morning in t=
he
Land of Nod.
=
Try as I like to find the wa=
y, I never can get b=
ack by
day, Nor can
remember plain and clear The curious music=
that
I hear.
=
Whenever the moon and =
stars
are set, Whene=
ver
the wind is high, All night long in=
the dark
and wet, A man=
goes
riding by. =
Late
in the night when the fires are out,
=
Why does he gallop and
gallop about? Whenever the tree=
s are
crying aloud, And s=
hips
are tossed at sea, By, on the highwa=
y, low
and loud, By at=
the
gallop goes he. By at the gallop =
he
goes, and then By
he comes back at the gallop again.
=
A birdie with a yellow=
bill Hoppe=
d up
on the window sill, Cocked his shinin=
g eye
and said: '=
Ain't
you 'shamed, you sleepy-head?'
=
RAIN
=
The rain is raining all
around. It fa=
lls on
field and tree, It rains on the
umbrellas here, And o=
n the
ships at sea.
=
=
Little Indian, Sioux or
Crow, Little
frosty Eskimo, Little Turk or Ja=
panee,
O! don't yo=
u wish
that you were me?
&=
nbsp;
You have seen the scarlet trees And the lions over
seas; You h=
ave
eaten ostrich eggs, And turned the tu=
rtles
off their legs.
&=
nbsp;
Such a life is very fine, But it's not so n=
ice as
mine: You m=
ust
often, as you trod, Have wearied not =
to be
abroad.
&=
nbsp;
You have curious things to eat, I am fed on proper
meat; You m=
ust
dwell beyond the foam, But I am safe and=
live
at home.
=
When I am =
grown
to man's estate =
span>I
shall be very proud and great, And t=
ell
the other girls and boys Not to meddle wit=
h my
toys.
=
=
I have a little shadow=
that
goes in and out with me, And what can be t=
he use
of him is more than I can see. He is very, very =
like
me, from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump
before me, when I jump into my bed.
&=
nbsp;
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow-- Not at all like p=
roper
children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes =
shoots
up taller, like an india-rubber ball, And he sometimes =
gets
so little that there's none of him at all.
=
He hasn't got a notion=
of
how children ought to play, And can only make=
a
fool of me in every sort of way. He stays so close
beside me, he's a coward you can see; I'd think shame to
stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
&=
nbsp;
One morning, very early, before the sun was up, I 'rose and found=
the
shining dew on every buttercup; But my lazy little
shadow, like an arrant sleepy head, Had stayed at home
behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
=
The sun is not a-bed w=
hen I At night upon my =
pillow
lie; Still =
round
the earth his way he takes, And morning after
morning makes.
While here at home in
shining day, We
round the sunny garden play, Each little Indian
sleepy-head Is
being kissed and put to bed.
&=
nbsp;
And when at eve I rise from tea, Day dawns beyond =
the
Atlantic Sea; And
all the children in the West Are getting up and
being dressed.
=
Smooth it slides upon =
its
travel, Her=
e a
wimple, there a gleam-- =
O
the clean gravel! =
O
the smooth stream!
&=
nbsp;
Sailing blossoms, silver fishes, Paven=
pools
as clear as air-- =
How
a child wishes =
To
live down there!
=
We can see our colored=
faces
Float=
ing on
the shaken pool =
Down
in cool places, =
Dim
and very cool;
&=
nbsp;
Till a wind or water wrinkle, Dippi=
ng
marten, plumping trout, =
Spreads
in a twinkle =
And
blots all out.
&=
nbsp;
See the rings pursue each other; All b=
elow
grows black as night, =
Just
as if mother =
Had
blown out the light!
&=
nbsp;
Patience, children, just a minute-- See t=
he spreading
circles die; =
The
stream and all in it =
Will
clear by-and-by.
=
My tea is nearly ready=
and
the sun has left the sky; It's time to take=
the
window to see Leerie going by; For every night at
teatime and before you take your seat, With lantern and =
with
ladder he comes posting up the street.
&=
nbsp;
Now Tom would be a driver and Maria go to sea, And my papa's a b=
anker
and as rich as he can be; But I, when I am
stronger and can choose what I'm to do, O Leerie, I'll go round=
at
night and light the lamps with you!
&=
nbsp;
For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door, And Leerie stops =
to
light it as he lights so many more; And O, before you=
hurry
by with ladder and with light, O Leerie, see a l=
ittle
child and nod to him to-night!
=
=
Of speckled eggs the b=
irdie
sings And n=
ests
among the trees; The sailor sings =
of
ropes and things In sh=
ips
upon the seas.
&=
nbsp;
The children sing in far Japan, The
children sing in Spain; The organ with the
organ man Is si=
nging
in the rain.
=
=
I should like to rise =
and go
Where the g=
olden
apples grow;-- Where below anoth=
er sky
Parrot Isla=
nds
anchored lie, And, watched by
cockatoos and goats, Lonely Crusoes bu=
ilding
boats;-- Wh=
ere in
sunshine reaching out Eastern cities, m=
iles
about, Are =
with
mosque and minaret Among sandy garde=
ns
set, And th=
e rich
goods from near and far Hang for sale in =
the
bazaar;-- W=
here the
Great Wall round China goes, And on one side t=
he
desert blows, And
with bell and voice and drum, Cities on the oth=
er
hum;-- Wher=
e are
forests, hot as fire, Wide as England, =
tall
as a spire, Full
of apes and cocoa-nuts And the negro hun=
ters'
huts;-- Whe=
re the
knotty crocodile Lies and blinks i=
n the
Nile, And t=
he red
flamingo flies Hunting fish befo=
re his
eyes;-- Whe=
re in
jungles, near and far, Man-devouring tig=
ers
are, Lying =
close
and giving ear Lest the hunt be drawing near, Or a comer-by be =
seen Swinging in a
palanquin;-- Where among the d=
esert
sands Some
deserted city stands, All its children,=
sweep
and prince, Grown
to manhood ages since, Not a foot in str=
eet or
house, Not =
a stir
of child or mouse, And when kindly f=
alls
the night, =
In all
the town no spark of light. There I'll come w=
hen
I'm a man W=
ith a
camel caravan; Light a fire in t=
he
gloom Of so=
me
dusty dining room; See the pictures =
on the
walls, Hero=
es,
fights and festivals And in a corner f=
ind
the toys Of=
the
old Egyptian boys.
&=
nbsp;
My bed is like a little boat; Nurse=
helps
me in when I embark; She girds me in my
sailor's coat And s=
tarts
me in the dark.
&=
nbsp;
At night, I go on board and say Good =
night
to all my friends on shore; I shut my eyes an=
d sail
away And s=
ee and
hear no more.
&=
nbsp;
And sometimes things to bed I take, As pr=
udent
sailors have to do; Perhaps a slice of
wedding-cake, Perha=
ps a
toy or two.
&=
nbsp;
All night across the dark we steer: But w=
hen
the day returns at last Safe in my room, =
beside
the pier, I fin=
d my
vessel fast.
=
Over the borders, a sin
without pardon, Break=
ing
the branches and crawling below, Out through the b=
reach
in the wall of the garden, Down =
by the
banks of the river, we go.
&=
nbsp;
Here is the mill with the humming of thunder, Here =
is the
weir with the wonder of foam, Here is the sluice with the race ru=
nning
under-- Marve=
lous
places, though handy to home!
&=
nbsp;
Sounds of the village grow stiller and stiller, Still=
er the
note of the birds on the hill; Dusty and dim are=
the
eyes of the miller, Deaf =
are
his ears with the moil of the mill.
&=
nbsp;
Years may go by, and the wheel in the river Wheel=
as it
wheels for us, children, to-day. Wheel and keep ro=
aring
and foaming for ever Long =
after
all of the boys are away.
&=
nbsp;
Home from the Indies and home from the ocean, Heroe=
s and
soldiers we all shall come home; Still we shall fi=
nd the
old mill wheel in motion, Turni=
ng and
churning that river to foam.
&=
nbsp;
You with the bean that I gave when we quarreled, I wit=
h your
marble of Saturday last, Honored and old a=
nd all
gaily apparelled, Here =
we
shall meet and remember the past.
=
=
When children are play=
ing
alone on the green, In comes the play=
mate
that never was seen. When children are=
happy
and lonely and good, The Friend of the
Children comes out of the wood.
&=
nbsp;
Nobody heard him and nobody saw, His is a picture =
you
never could draw, But he's sure to =
be
present, abroad or at home, When children are=
happy
and playing alone.
&=
nbsp;
He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass, He sings when you
tinkle the musical glass; Whene'er you are =
happy
and cannot tell why, The Friend of the
Children is sure to be by!
&=
nbsp;
He loves to be little, he hates to be big, 'Tis he that inha=
bits
the caves that you dig; 'Tis he when you =
play
with your soldiers of tin That sides with t=
he
Frenchman and never can win.
&=
nbsp;
'Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed, Bids you go to yo=
ur
sleep and not trouble your head; For wherever they=
're
lying, in cupboard or shelf, 'Tis he will take=
care
of your playthings himself.
=
O it's I that am the c=
aptain
of a tidy little ship, Of a =
ship
that goes a-sailing on the pond; And my ship it ke=
eps
a-turning all around and all about; But when I'm a li=
ttle
older, I shall find the secret out How t=
o send
my vessel sailing on beyond.
&=
nbsp;
For I mean to grow as little as the dolly at the helm, And t=
he
dolly I intend to come alive; And with him besi=
de to
help me, it's a-sailing I shall go, It's a-sailing on=
the
water, when the jolly breezes blow And the vessel go=
es a
divie-divie dive.
&=
nbsp;
O it's then you'll see me sailing through the rushes and the reeds, =
And y=
ou'll
hear the water singing at the prow; For beside the do=
lly
sailor, I'm to voyage and explore, To land upon the =
island
where no dolly was before, And t=
o fire
the penny cannon in the bow.
=
I saw you toss the kit=
es on
high And bl=
ow the
birds about the sky; And all around I =
heard
you pass, L=
ike
ladies' skirts across the grass-- O win=
d,
a-blowing all day long! O win=
d,
that sings so loud a song!
&=
nbsp;
I saw the different things you did, But always you yo=
urself
you hid. I =
felt
you push, I heard you call, I could not see
yourself at all-- O win=
d,
a-blowing all day long, O win=
d,
that sings so loud a song!
&=
nbsp;
O you that are so strong and cold, O blower, are you=
young
or old? Are=
you a
beast of field and tree, Or just a stronger
child than me? O win=
d,
a-blowing all day long, O win=
d,
that sings so loud a song!
=
I woke before the morn=
ing, I
was happy all the day, I never said an u=
gly
word, but smiled and stuck to play.
&=
nbsp;
And now at last the sun is going down behind the wood, And I am very hap=
py,
for I know that I've been good.
&=
nbsp;
My bed is waiting cool and fresh, with linen smooth and fair, And I must off to
sleepsin-by, and not forget my prayer.
&=
nbsp;
I know that, till to-morrow I shall see the sun arise, No ugly dream sha=
ll
fright my mind, no ugly sight my eyes.
&=
nbsp;
But slumber hold me tightly, till I waken in the dawn, And hear the thru=
shes
singing in the lilacs round the lawn.
=
Children, you are very
little, And=
your
bones are very brittle; If you would grow=
great
and stately, You
must try to walk sedately.
&=
nbsp;
You must still be bright and quiet, And content with =
simple
diet; And r=
emain,
through all bewild'ring, Innocent and hone=
st
children.
&=
nbsp;
Happy hearts and happy faces, Happy play in gra=
ssy
places-- Th=
at was
how, in ancient ages, Children grew to =
kings
and sages.
&=
nbsp;
But the unkind and the unruly, And the sort who =
eat
unduly, The=
y must
never hope for glory-- Theirs is quite a
different story!
&=
nbsp;
Cruel children, crying babies, All grow up as ge=
ese
and gabies, Hated, as their a=
ge
increases, =
By
their nephews and their nieces.
PICTURE-BOOKS IN WINTER
=
Summer fading, winter
comes-- Fro=
sty
mornings, tingling thumbs, Window robins, wi=
nter
rooks, And =
the
picture story-books.
&=
nbsp;
Water now is turned to stone Nurse and I can w=
alk
upon; Still=
we
find the flowing brooks In the picture
story-books.
&=
nbsp;
All the pretty things put by Wait upon the
childrens' eye, Sheep and shepher=
ds,
trees and crooks, In the picture
story-books.
&=
nbsp;
We may see how all things are, Seas and cities, =
near
and far, An=
d the
flying fairies' looks, In the picture
story-books.
&=
nbsp;
How am I to sing your praise, Happy chimney-cor=
ner
days, Sitti=
ng
safe in nursery nooks, Reading picture
story-books?
=
How do you like to go =
up in
a swing, Up in=
the
air so blue? Oh,
I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a
child can do!
&=
nbsp;
Up in the air and over the wall, Till =
I can
see so wide, Rivers and trees =
and
cattle and all Over =
the
countryside--
&=
nbsp;
Till I look down on the garden green, Down =
on the
roof so brown-- Up in the air I go
flying again, Up in=
the
air and down!
A
THOUGHT
=
It is very nice to thi=
nk The world i=
s full
of meat and drink With little child=
ren
saying grace In every
Christian kind of place.
=
The lamps now glitter =
down
the street; Faintly sound the
falling feet And
the blue even slowly falls About the garden =
trees
and walls.
&=
nbsp;
Now in the falling of the gloom The red fire pain=
ts the
empty room; And
warmly on the roof it looks, And flickers on t=
he
backs of books.
&=
nbsp;
Armies march by tower and spire Of cities blazing=
, in
the fire;-- Till
as I gaze with staring eyes, The armies fade, =
the
lustre dies.
&=
nbsp;
Then once again the glow returns; Again the phantom=
city
burns; And =
down
the red-hot valley, lo! The phantom armies
marching go!
&=
nbsp;
Blinking embers, tell me true Where are those a=
rmies
marching to, And
what the burning city is That crumbles in =
your
furnaces!
=
Down by a shining wate=
r well
I found a v=
ery
little dell, =
No
higher than my head. The heather and t=
he
gorse about In
summer bloom were coming out, =
Some
yellow and some red.
&=
nbsp;
I called the little pool a sea; The little hills =
were
big to me; =
For
I am very small. I made a boat, I =
made a
town, I sea=
rched
the caverns up and down, =
And
named them one and all.
&=
nbsp;
And all about was mine, I said, The little sparro=
ws overhead,
=
The
little minnows, too. This was the worl=
d and
I was king; For
me the bees came by to sing, =
For
me the swallows flew.
&=
nbsp;
I played there were no deeper seas, Nor any wider pla=
ins
than these, =
Nor
other kings than me. At last I heard my
mother call Out
from the house at evenfall, =
To
call me home to tea.
&=
nbsp;
And I must rise and leave my dell, And leave my dimp=
led
water well, =
And
leave my heather blooms. Alas! and as my h=
ome I
neared, How=
very
big my nurse appeared, =
How
great and cool the rooms!
=
All round the house is=
the
jet-black night; =
It
stares through the window-pane; It crawls in the
corners, hiding from the light, =
And
it moves with the moving flame.
&=
nbsp;
Now my little heart goes a-beating like a drum, =
With
the breath of Bogie in my hair, And all round the
candle the crooked shadows come, =
And
go marching along up the stair.
&=
nbsp;
The shadow of the balusters, the shadow of the lamp, =
The
shadow of the child that goes to bed-- All the wicked sh=
adows
coming, tramp, tramp, tramp, =
With
the black night overhead.
=
Late lies the wintry s=
un
a-bed, A fr=
osty,
fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or t=
wo;
and then, A
blood-red orange, sets again.
&=
nbsp;
Before the stars have left the skies, At morning in the=
dark
I rise; And
shivering in my nakedness, By the cold candl=
e,
bathe and dress.
&=
nbsp;
Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen=
bones
a bit; Or w=
ith a
reindeer-sled, explore The colder countr=
ies
round the door.
&=
nbsp;
When to go out, my nurse doth wrap Me in my comforte=
r and
cap; The co=
ld
wind burns my face and blows Its frosty pepper=
up my
nose.
&=
nbsp;
Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my fr=
osty
breath abroad; And tree and hous=
e, and
hill and lake, Are frosted like a
wedding-cake.
=
When at home alone I s=
it And am very tired=
of
it, I have =
just
to shut my eyes To go sailing thr=
ough
the skies-- To go
sailing far away To the pleasant L=
and of
play; To the
fairy land afar Where the Little =
People
are; Where =
the
clover-tops are trees, And the rain-pool=
s are
the seas, A=
nd the
leaves like little ships Sail about on tiny
trips; And =
above
the daisy tree =
Through
the grasses, High
o'erhead the Bumble Bee =
Hums
and passes.
&=
nbsp;
In that forest to and fro I can wander, I c=
an go;
See the spi=
der
and the fly, And
the ants go marching by Carrying parcels =
with
their feet =
Down
the green and grassy street. I can in the sorr=
el sit
Where the
ladybird alit. I
can climb the jointed grass; =
And
on high See=
the
greater swallows pass =
In
the sky, An=
d the
round sun rolling by Heeding no such t=
hings
as I.
&=
nbsp;
Through that forest I can pass Till, as in a
looking-glass, Humming fly and d=
aisy
tree And my=
tiny
self I see, Painted very clea=
r and
neat On the
rain-pool at my feet.
&=
nbsp;
Should a leaflet come to land Drifting near to =
where
I stand, St=
raight
I'll board that tiny boat Round the rain-po=
ol sea
to float.
&=
nbsp;
Little thoughtful creatures sit On the grassy coa=
sts of
it; Little =
things
with lovely eyes See me sailing wi=
th
surprise. S=
ome
are clad in armour green-- (These have sure =
to
battle been!)-- Some are pied with
ev'ry hue, =
Black
and crimson, gold and blue; Some have wings a=
nd
swift are gone; But they all look
kindly on.
&=
nbsp;
When my eyes I once again Open, and see all
things plain; High bare walls, =
great
bare floor; Great
big knobs on drawer and door; Great big people
perched on chairs, Stitching tucks a=
nd
mending tears, Each a hill that I
could climb, And
talking nonsense all the time-- O
dear me, That
I could be A
sailor on the rain-pool sea, A climber in, the
clover tree, And
just come back, a sleepy-head, Late at night to =
go to
bed.
=
Last, to the chamber w=
here I
lie My fear=
ful
footsteps patter nigh, And come from out=
the
cold and gloom Into my warm and
cheerful room.
&=
nbsp;
There, safe arrived, we turn about To keep the coming
shadows out, And
close the happy door at last On all the perils=
that
we passed.
&=
nbsp;
Then, when mamma goes by to bed, She shall come in=
with
tip-toe tread, And see me lying =
warm
and fast An=
d in
the Land of Nod at last.
=
When the golden day is=
done,
Throu=
gh the
closing portal, Child and garden,
flower and sun, Vanis=
h all
things mortal.
&=
nbsp;
As the blinding showers fall, As th=
e rays
diminish, U=
nder
evening's cloak they all Roll =
away
and vanish.
&=
nbsp;
Garden darkened, daisy shut, Child=
in
bed, they slumber-- Glow-worm in the
highway rut, Mice =
among
the lumber.
&=
nbsp;
In the darkness houses shine, =
Parents
move with candles Till on all, the =
night
divine =
Turns
the bedroom handles.
&=
nbsp;
Till at last the day begins =
In
the east a-breaking, In the hedges and=
the
whins =
Sleeping
birds a-waking.
&=
nbsp;
In the darkness shapes of things, =
Houses,
trees and hedges, Clearer grow; and
sparrow's wings =
Beat
on window ledges.
&=
nbsp;
These shall wake the yawning maid, =
She
the door shall open-- Finding dew on ga=
rden
glade =
And
the morning broken.
&=
nbsp;
There my garden grows again =
Green
and rosy painted, As at eve behind =
the
pane =
From my eyes it fainted=
.
&=
nbsp;
Just as it was shut away, =
Toy-like,
in the even, Here
I see it glow with day =
Under
glowing heaven.
&=
nbsp;
Every path and every plot, =
Every
bush of roses, Every blue
forget-me-not =
Where
the dew reposes.
&=
nbsp;
'Up! they cry, 'the day is come =
On
the smiling valleys; We have beat the
morning drum; =
Playmate,
join your allies!'
=
=
Birds all the sunny da=
y Flutt=
er and
quarrel Her=
e in
the arbor-like Tent of the laure=
l.
&=
nbsp;
Here in the fork The b=
rown
nest is seated; Four little blue =
eggs The m=
other
keeps heated.
&=
nbsp;
While we stand watching her, Stari=
ng
like gabies, Safe
in each egg are the Bird's
little babies.
Soon the frail eggs they shal=
l Chip,=
and
upspringing Make
all the April woods Merry=
with
singing.
&=
nbsp;
Younger than we are, O chi=
ldren,
and frailer, Soon
in blue air they'll be, Singe=
r and
sailor.
&=
nbsp;
We, so much older,
&=
nbsp;
They shall go flying With
musical speeches High over head in=
the Tops =
of the
beeches.
&=
nbsp;
In spite of our wisdom And
sensible talking, We on our feet mu=
st go Plodd=
ing
and walking.
=
All the names I know f=
rom
nurse: Gard=
ener's
garters, Shepherd's purse, Bachelor's button=
s,
Lady's smock, And
the Lady Hollyhock.
&=
nbsp;
Fairy places, fairy things, Fairy woods where=
the
wild bee wings, Tiny trees for ti=
ny
dames-- The=
se
must all be fairy names!
&=
nbsp;
Tiny woods below whose boughs Shady fairies wea=
ve a
house; Tiny
tree-tops, rose or thyme, Where the braver
fairies climb!
&=
nbsp;
Fair are grown-up people's trees, But the fairest w=
oods
are these; =
Where
if I were not so tall, I should live for=
good
and all.
=
Faster than fairies, f=
aster
than witches, Bridges and house=
s,
hedges and ditches; And charging alon=
g like
troops in a battle, All through the m=
eadows
the horses and cattle: All of the sights=
of
the hill and the plain Fly as thick as d=
riving
rain; And e=
ver
again in the wink of an eye, Painted stations
whistle by.
&=
nbsp;
Here is a child who clambers and scrambles, All by himself and
gathering brambles; Here is a tramp w=
ho
stands and gazes; And there is the =
green
for stringing the daisies! Here is a cart ru=
n away
in the road Lumping along wit=
h man
and load; A=
nd here
is a mill and there is a river, Each a glimpse an=
d gone
forever!
=
=
These nuts, that I kee=
p in
the back of the nest Where all my lead
soldiers are lying at rest, Were gathered in =
autumn
by nursie and me In a wood with a =
well
by the side of the sea.
&=
nbsp;
This whistle we made (and how clearly it sounds!) By the side of a =
field
at the end of the grounds. Of a branch of a =
plane,
with a knife of my own, It was nursie who=
made
it, and nursie alone!
&=
nbsp;
The stone, with the white and the yellow and grey, We discovered I c=
annot
tell how far away; And I carried it =
back
although weary and cold, For though father
denies it, I'm sure it is gold.
&=
nbsp;
But of all of my treasures the last is the king, For there's very =
few
children possess such a thing; And that is a chi=
sel,
both handle and blade, Which a man who w=
as
really a carpenter made.
=
What are you able to b=
uild
with your blocks? Castles and palac=
es,
temples and docks. Rain may keep rai=
ning
and others go roam, But I can be happ=
y and
building at home.
&=
nbsp;
Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea, There I'll establ=
ish a
city for me: A
kirk and a mill and a palace beside, And a harbor as w=
ell
where my vessels may ride.
&=
nbsp;
Great is the palace with pillar and wall, A sort of a tower=
on
the top of it all, And steps coming =
down
in an orderly way To where my toy v=
essels
lay safe in the bay.
&=
nbsp;
This one is sailing and that one is moored: Hark to the song =
of the
sailors on board! And see the steps=
of my
palace, the kings Coming and going =
with
presents and things!
&=
nbsp;
Now I have done with it, down let it go! All in a moment t=
he
town is laid low. Block upon block =
lying
scattered and free, What is there lef=
t of
my town by the sea?
&=
nbsp;
Yet as I saw it, I see it again, The kirk and the
palace, the ships and the men And as long as I =
live
and where'er I may be, I'll always remem=
ber my
town by the sea.
=
The gardener does not =
love
to talk, He=
makes
me keep the gravel walk; And when he puts =
his
tools away, He
locks the door and takes the key.
&=
nbsp;
Away behind the currant row Where no one else=
but
cook may go, Far
in the plots, I see him dig, Old and serious, =
brown
and big.
&=
nbsp;
He digs the flowers, green, red and blue, Nor wishes to be =
spoken
to. He digs=
the
flowers and cuts the hay, And never seems t=
o want
to play.
&=
nbsp;
Silly gardener! summer goes, And winter comes =
with
pinching toes, When in the garde=
n bare
and brown Y=
ou
must lay your barrow down.
&=
nbsp;
Well now, and while the summer stays, To profit by these
garden days, O
how much wiser you would be To play at Indian=
wars
with me!