A Childs Garden of Verses | Page 8

XXXII
The Moon

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves
on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And
birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.
The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the
door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be
out by the light of the moon.
But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out
of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the
morning the sun shall arise.
XXXIII
The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
XXXIV

Time to Rise

A birdie with a yellow bill
Hopped upon my window sill,
Cocked
his shining eye and said:
"Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy-head!"
XXXV
Looking-Glass River

Smooth it glides upon its travel,
Here a wimple, there a gleam--
O the clean gravel!
O the smooth stream!
Sailing blossoms, silver fishes,
Paven pools as clear as air--
How a child wishes
To live down there!
We can see our colored faces
Floating on the shaken pool
Down in cool places,
Dim and very cool;
Till a wind or water wrinkle,
Dipping marten, plumping trout,
Spreads in a twinkle
And blots all out.
See the rings pursue each other;
All below grows black as night,
Just as if mother
Had blown out the light!
Patience, children, just a minute--

See the spreading circles die;
The stream and all in it
Will clear by-and-by.
XXXVI
Fairy Bread

Come up here, O dusty feet!
Here is fairy bread to eat.
Here in my retiring room,
Children, you
may dine
On the golden smell of broom
And the shade of pine;
And when you have eaten well,
Fairy stories
hear and tell.
XXXVII
From a Railway
Carriage