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