Christina Georgina Rossetti

You may find the answer if you try;And when all is said,Half the answer hangs upon a thread!

Take your walkTo the shady leaf or stalk.May no toad spy you,May the little birds pass by you;Spin and die,To live again a butterfly.

And my nurse is Polly,And my sister Poll.‘Polly!’ cried Polly,‘Don’t tear Polly, dolly’ –While soft-hearted PollTrembled for the doll.

Sturdy dog Trot close round the corner,I never caught him growling and biting.

Arrayed in sunny white;An April day’s delight,Oh, fair to see!Oh, fair to seeFruit-laden cherry tree,With balls of shining redDecking a leafy head,Oh, fair to see!

Thomas has a threshing-flail,And he’s up betimes.Sometimes crossing through the grassWhere the dew lies pearly,They say ‘Good morrow’ as they passBy the leafy limes.

And say:‘Come, all be gay’For a wedding day.‘Dong a dong,’The bells sigh long,And call:‘Weep one, weep all’For a funeral.

What could she have to tell us,And what could she say?‘I’ve seen a hundred pretty things,And seen a hundred gay;But only think: I peep by nightAnd do not peep by day!’

Come again, come again, come back to me,Bringing the summer and bringing the sun.

Mother, accept, I pray,My offering.And may you happy live,And long us bless;Receiving as you giveGreat happiness.