In the morning I cast my net into the sea.

The walls are of white silver and the roof of shining gold.The queen lives in a palace with seven courtyards, and shewears a jewel that cost all the wealth of seven kingdoms.But let me tell you, mother, in a whisper, where my king’spalace is.It is at the corner of our terrace where the pot of…

You are riding in a palanquin and I am trotting by you on ared horse.It is evening and the sun goes down. The waste of Joradighilies wan and grey before us. The land is desolate and barren.You are frightened and thinking-‘I know not where we have cometo.’I say to you, ‘Mother, do not be afraid.’The…

He was reading to you all the evening, but could you reallymake out what he meant?What nice stores, mother, you can tell us! Why can’t fatherwrite like that, I wonder?Did he never hear from his own mother stories of giants andfairies and princesses?Has he forgotten them all?Often when he gets late for his bath you…

You have come out in the morning to play in the courtyard,tottering and tumbling as you run.But who was it coloured that little frock, my child?What is it makes you laugh, my little life-bud?Mother smiles at you standing on the threshold.She claps her hands and her bracelets jingle, and you dancewith your bamboo stick in…

Would you drive me off, saying to me, ‘Get away, you naughtylittle puppy?’Then go, mother, go! I will never come to you when you callme, and never let you feed me any more.If I were only a little green parrot, and not your baby,mother dear, would you keep me chained lest I should fly away?Would…

and thou keepest me free.Lest I forget them they never venture to leave me alone.But day passes by after day and thou art not seen.If I call not thee in my prayers, if I keep not thee in my heart,thy love for me still waits for my love.