A Little Freckled Person Part 8

Have you seen a sailor lad dreaming at the wheel?

Have you seen the great sharks flash, white beneath a keel?

Have you seen the savages dancing in a ring?

Have you, on a desert isle, ever seen a king?

Beach birds, beach birds, flying in to me, In some far, blue palace-hall of your home, the sea, Will you tell the listening birds how, in a curious land, Once--you saw a little maid, playing in the sand?

THE SKY'S SONG

The sky stands up to sing before us; Each star's a word, the moon's the chorus!

A SPRING THOUGHT

The new birds tweet, and buds come sweet, And puffy clouds are in the sky.

The world is full of little girls, But very few as nice as I!

THE ZOO

We were walking in the zoo, And all the animals looked at us; The bear and the hippopotamus, And quite a few Lions and wolves and a yak and a gnu.

And we were glad some one had made Cages around them, so that we Could walk there and not be afraid: But could just pretend that they were free; And could eat us both--if they wanted to.

SIX IN JUNE

The leaves are born; the organ man Has got a new, quick tune.

It's rained. The kitten's gone to sleep:-- And I'll be six in June!

CLOUD MAGIC

Beneath the comfortable sky All afternoon I love to lie, And think about the books I've read And all the things I dream in bed, When I am not quite sleeping yet-- The things that day makes me forget.

The white clouds looked like s.h.i.+ps one day, And then like lambkins strayed away; And, as I look, I understand Just where it is that's Fairyland.

It's only lying down, you know, The clouds make pictures for me, so When I stand up to see them, why, There's nothing there but clouds and sky!

AMBITION

A lonely little desert isle That was not comforted By all the oceans mile on mile Sighed wistfully and said, "It's hard sometimes to be content.

I wish I were a continent!"

TREE BIRTHDAYS

Look! Look at me!

To-day's my birthday, Tree!

See, let me stand up, so, Beside you. How you grow!

I'm tall, but oh, I'll never be as tall as you, I know!

Tree, when's your birthday, please? Why don't you speak?

I seem so small, And you're so tall, Perhaps you have a birthday every week!

IN AUTUMN

I'm sorry, Trees, Your leaves have gone, and left you. But don't cry; Don't s.h.i.+ver so. You're luckier than I!

When Summer's gone, and Fall's here stern and cool, I have to go to school.

Don't tremble, Trees!

You shouldn't mind. I wish that I were you!

You don't have fractions, no, nor maps to do, And no one tries to make trees keep a rule-- _I_ have to go to school!

STAR-CASTE

A star looked down upon the sea, And to a lighthouse trim said he, "I wonder what you are!"

The lighthouse twinkled instantly, "Why, you're the aristocracy, And I'm a working star!"