Little White Lily High rides the thirsty sun, Closeth her eye. Pale little Dandelion, In her white shroud, Make no delay; Little winged Dandelion Soareth away. Helen Barron Bostwick [1826 LITTLE WHITE LILY From "Within and Without " LITTLE White Lily sat by a stone, Little White Lily said: "It is good, Little White Lily drooping with pain, Little White Lily said: "Good again, Now I am stronger, now I am cool; Heat cannot burn me, my veins are so full.” Little White Lily smells very sweet; Little White Lily is happy again. 129 George Macdonald [1824-1905] WISHING RING-TING! I wish I were a Primrose, A bright yellow Primrose, blowing in the Spring! And the Elm-tree for our King! Nay, stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree, The sun and moonshine glance in, O-no! I wish I were a Robin, A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go; Well-tell! Where should I fly to, Before a day was over, Home comes the rover, For Mother's kiss, sweeter this Than any other thing! William Allingham [1824-1889] BEASTS, BIRDS AND FISHES THE Dog will come when he is called, The Goat is full of play. The Parrot is a prate-apace, Yet knows not what he says; Beasts, Birds and Fishes The Pig is not a feeder nice, The Squirrel loves a nut; The Wolf would eat you in a trice The Swan he has a bosom fair, Oh, yes, the Peacock is more proud, The Lion roars so very loud, He'd fill you with surprise. The Raven's coat is shining black, The Camel's hump is on his back, The Sparrow steals the cherry ripe, The Elephant is wise; The Blackbird charms you with his pipe, The false Hyena cries. The Hen guards well her little chicks, The useful Cow is meek; The Beaver builds with mud and sticks; The little Wren is very small, The Pelican, she loves her young; The Stork, his father loves; The Woodcock's bill is very long, And innocent are Doves. The spotted Tiger's fond of blood, The Pigeons feed on peas; The Mice will eat your cheese. 131 A Lobster's black, when boiled he's red; The Codfish has a clumsy head, The Goose on grass will feed. The lady in her gown of silk The little Worm may thank; The Whale produces oil. The Glow-worm shines the darkest night, With lantern in his tail; The Turtle is the cit's delight It wears a coat of mail. In Germany they hunt the Boar, The Eagle has a crooked beak, The Plaice has orange spots; The child that does not know these thinm But I will up in knowledge grow, As youth can come but once. Adelaide O'Keeffe (1776-1855?] THE TIGER TIGER! Tiger! burning bright, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? Answer to a Child's Question 133 In what distant deeps or skies And what shoulder, and what art, What the hammer? what the chain? In what furnace was thy brain? When the stars threw down their spears, Did He who made the Lamb, make thee? Tiger! Tiger! burning bright, In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? William Blake (1757-1827] IWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION Do you ask what the birds say? The Sparrow, the Dove, Samuel Taylor Coleridge [1772-1834] |