Songs for Parents | Page 3

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This Etext was prepared by Stewart A. Levin of Englewood CO with additional biographical information provided by Curtis Farrar of Washington, D.C.
Songs for Parents
By John Farrar
Dedication
Here's a rhyme for Barbara,
Laughing white and pink,?Here's a rhyme for smiling Ted,
And one for Wink.
Now Dick's not much at reading rhymes,
He'd rather sit and fish.?Well here's a couple of verses, Dick,
Read them if you wish!
Contents
Dedication
SONGS OF DESIRE
Summer Explorer?Spring Wish?Ambition?Dreams?Water-Lily?Humor?Independence
SONGS FOR OUT OF DOORS
A Comparison?Speculation?Parade?Flower Preferences?Parental Advice?Song for a Child Watching Clouds?Problem?Garden Musings?My Garden?Tracks?Chanticleer?Rainbow?Windmill?Cat-Fish?Visiting?Castles?Parenthood
SONGS OF CIRCUMSTANCE
Moral Song?Serious Omission?Choice?Natural Fireworks?Conspiracy?Cuckoo Clock?The Sentinel?Royalty?Crackers?The Drum?Theatricals?Sally
SONGS FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE
Bundles?The Candy Santa Claus?The Tinsel Star?The Ambitious Mouse?Prayer
SONGS OF DESIRE
Summer Explorer
I'd like to be a gypsy?With gold rings in my ears,?Along the road to sit and sing,?And not do another thing?For years and years;
A road to dream upon by day,?A fire for dreams at night,?Free to wander far away,?Free to shout and free to play,?Quite impolite.
I'd pitch my tent beside a wall,?All apple trees within,?And if the apples didn't fall,?I wouldn't hesitate at all.?I'd climb--and sin!
But if the weather wasn't fine,?If all the world were rain,?If there weren't anywhere to dine?And goose-flesh quivered up my spine--?I might come home again!
Spring Wish
A frog's a very happy thing,?Cool and green in early spring,?Quick and silver through the pool,?With no thought of books or school.
Oh, I want to be a frog,?Sunning, stretching on a log,?Blinking there in splendid ease,?Swimming naked when I please,?Nosing into magic nooks,?Quiet marshes, noisy brooks.
Free! And fit for anything!?Oh, to be a frog in spring!
Ambition
If I were a rocket?Shot high across the night,?I'd rather burst in silver stars?Than green or purple light;
For then, perhaps, I'd fool the moon,?Although she's very wise,?And thinking me a baby star?She'd keep me in the skies.
Dreams
I'd like to dream my own dreams,?Instead of dreaming those?The silly sandman brings along?Like moving picture shows.
I'd like to dream of palaces,?Of magic meadowlands,?Of silver gates and golden thrones?And chanting fairy bands;
Of seas of spraying jewels,?Of dancing crystal ships,?Of the queen of all the elves herself--?Two rubies for her lips;
But, alas! I never dream such things,?And when I jump and wake?As an oozy ogre clutches me--?It's just a stomach ache!
Water-Lily
I'd like to be a water-lily sleeping on the river,?Where solemn rushes whisper, and funny ripples quiver.?All day I'd watch the blue sky--all night I'd watch the black, Floating in the soft waves, dreaming on my back,?And when I'd tired of dreaming, I'd call a passing fish,?"I want to find the sea!" I'd shout, "Come! You can grant my wish!"
He'd bite me from my moorings, and softly I would slip?To the center of the river like an ocean-going ship.?The waves would laugh upon me. The wind would blow me fast, And oh, what shores and wonders would greet me as I passed! Yes, if I were a water-lily, I'd sail to sea in state--?A green frog for my captain--and a dragon-fly for mate!
Humor
Have you ever watched the clowns at play,?White, red and black on circus day??They're always very, very gay.?I wonder how they stay that way!
I'd like to be a clown,?Playing tricks around the town,?Turning somersaults and springs,?As if they were easy things,?Laughing morning, noon and night,?Being such a funny sight!
Do you think, then, I'd grow tired of fun,?Laughing so from sun to sun??Or, when performances are done,?Do clown-folk cry like anyone?
Independence
I like to go out in the night?When there's neither a sound nor a light,?With my hands and feet bare,?And the wind in my hair,?Not a nurse nor a parent in sight;
But only the night, moon and me?As I dance in the dew joyfully,?Quite daring and bold?For there's no one to scold,?Because there is no one to see.
SONGS FOR OUT OF DOORS
A Comparison
Apple