‘Give me freshening breeze, my boys,
A ship that cuts the dashing waves,And weathers every gale.What life is like a sailor’s life,So free, so bold, so brave?His home the ocean’s wide expanse,A coral bed his grave.’
Louisa May Alcott
Four little chests all in a row,
All fashioned and filled, long ago,By children now in their prime.Four little keys hung side by side,With faded ribbons, brave and gayWhen fastened there, with childish pride,Long ago, on a rainy day.Four little names, one on each lid,Carved out by a boyish hand,And underneath there lieth hidHistories of the happy bandOnce playing here, and pausing…
We sighing said, ‘Our Pan is dead;
Around it wistful sunbeams quiver,But Music’s airy voice is fled.Spring mourns as for untimely frost;The bluebird chants a requiem;The willow-blossom waits for him;The Genius of the wood is lost.’Then from the flute, untouched by hands,There came a low, harmonious breath:‘For such as he there is no death;His life the eternal life commands;Above man’s aims his…
My Frost-King – Song Ii
Brighter shone the golden shadows;On the cool wind softly cameThe low, sweet tones of happy flowers,Singing little Violet’s name.‘Mong the green trees was it whispered,And the bright waves bore it onTo the lonely forest flowers,Where the glad news had not gone.Thus the Frost-King lost his kingdom,And his power to harm and blight.Violet conquered, and his…
Love comes to all soon or late,
For every bird will find its mate,And every lass a lad,
‘In China there lived a little man,
‘His legs were short, his feet were small,And this little man could not walk at all.’‘Chingery changery ri co day,Ekel tekel happy man;Uron odesko canty oh, oh,Gallopy wallopy China go.’‘Miss Ki Hi was short and squat,She had money and he had notSo off to her he resolved to go,And play her a tune on his…
Brighter shone the golden shadows;
The low, sweet tones of happy flowers,Singing little Violet’s name.‘Mong the green trees was it whispered,And the bright waves bore it onTo the lonely forest flowers,Where the glad news had not gone.Thus the Frost-King lost his kingdom,And his power to harm and blight.Violet conquered, and his cold heartWarmed with music, love, and light;And his fair…
We are sending you, dear flowers
Where your gentle sisters may not weepO’er the cold graves where you lie;But you go to bring them fadeless lifeIn the bright homes where they dwell,And you softly smile that’t is so,As we sadly sing farewell.O plead with gentle words for us,And whisper tenderlyOf generous love to that cold heart,And it will answer ye;And though…
‘Hello! hello!
It’s lovely and coolOut here in the pool;On a lily-pad floatFor a nice green boat.Here we sit and singIn a pleasant ring;Or leap frog play,In the jolliest way.Our games have begun,Come join in the fun.’
Queen of my tub, I merrily sing,
And sturdily wash, and rinse, and wring,And fasten the clothes to dry;Then out in the free fresh air they swing,Under the sunny sky.I wish we could wash from our hearts and our soulsThe stains of the week away,And let water and air by their magic makeOurselves as pure as they;Then on the earth there would…