Child Songs of Cheer Part 7

THE RAINY DAY

Let's sail all day, away, away To the splendid Spanish Main And the sultry seas of the Caribbees And skies that never rain!

As pirates bold with bags of gold And cutla.s.ses and things, We'll pack doubloons and silver spoons In chests with iron rings.

And these we'll carry and secretly bury In cannibal isles afar; Like Captain Kidd, when they're safely hid We won't tell where they are.

Let's sail all day, away, away To the splendid Spanish Main And the sultry seas of the Caribbees --But at night sail home again!

THE FIRST RED-BIRD

I heard a song at daybreak, So honey-sweet and clear, The essence of all joyous things Seemed mingling in its cheer.

The frosty world about me I searched with eager gaze, But all was slumber-bound and wrapped In violet-tinted haze.

Then suddenly a sunbeam Shot slanting o'er the hill, And once again from out the sky I heard that honied trill.

And there upon a poplar, Poised at its topmost height, I saw a little singer clad In scarlet plumage bright.

The poplar branches quivered, By dawn winds lightly blown, And like a breeze-swept poppy-flower The red-bird rocked and shone.

The blue sky, and his feathers Flashed o'er by golden light, Oh, all my heart with rapture thrilled, It was so sweet a sight!

THE WEATHER-VANE

Turn, turn, when pelting rain Rushes down the window-pane; Turn, turn, and turn again When the sun shines, weather-vane!

Fie! Fie! to always be Emblem of uncertainty!

Followed by the restless sea, Changeful moons may wax and wane, Yet the moons and sea-tides, too, Constant are compared to you!

Fickle still you must remain Long as winds blow, weather-vane!

THE SWAN

Stately swan, so proud and white Glistening in the morning light, Come and tell me is it true That a snow-white swan like you, Guided by bright golden chains In his beak for bridle reins, Once upon a time from far Fabled lands where fairies are Brought a magic boat wherein Rode the brave knight Lohengrin?

Stately swan, so proud and white Glistening in the morning light, If you only wore a gold Harness, like that swan of old, And if trailing in your wake Sailing on the silver lake Was a boat of magic and You could float to fairy-land, Then I'd jump in and begin Traveling like Lohengrin!

BABY'S BAKING

So, so, spade and hoe, Little pile of sand; See it turning into dough In the baby's hand!

Little pie with crimpy crust, Set it in the sun; Sugar it with powdered dust, And bake it till it's done.

A SURE SIGN

When you see upon the walk Circles newly made of chalk, And around them all the day Little boys in eager play Rolling marbles, agates fine, Banded, polished, red as wine, Marbles crystal as the dew, Each with rainbows twisted through, Marbles gay in painted clay, Flashing, twinkling in your way, When the walk has blossomed so, Surely every one must know None need wonder who has heard Robin, wren, or Peter-bird; Sure the sign as song or wing, It is spring!

ANOTHER SURE SIGN

When pink-cheeked on every hand Little girls are seen to stand Turning skipping ropes,--_swish-swash!_-- While their laughing playmates run Jumping over,--oh, what fun!-- _Swish-swash! Swish-swash!_ Two and two now, see them dash!

_One, two, one, two,_ Round they scamper, safely through, _Swish-swash!_ such merry skipping, _One, two,_--some one is tripping!

Ah, she's out now and must pay Turning rope while others play!

See the bobbing golden curls, Little skirts in rhythmic swirls Rising, falling, to the beat Of the little skipping feet!

When these pretty sights appear, It is surely very clear April's here!

THE ROBIN'S BATH

A flash and flicker of dripping wings, A wet red breast that glows Bright as the newly opened bud The first red poppy shows, A sparkle of flying rainbow drops, A glint of golden sun On ruffled feathers, a s.n.a.t.c.h of song, And the robin's bath is done.

THE FROSTED PANE

When I wakened, very early, All my window-pane was pearly With a sparkling little picture traced in lines of shining white; Some magician with a gleaming Frosty brush, while I was dreaming, Must have come and by the starlight worked through all the quiet night.