Under the Tree | Page 2

up and down.
THE WOODPECKER
The woodpecker pecked out a little round hole?And made him a house in the telephone pole.
One day when I watched he poked out his head,?And he had on a hood and a collar of red.
When the streams of rain pour out of the sky,?And the sparkles of lightning go flashing by,
And the big, big wheels of thunder roll,?He can snuggle back in the telephone pole.
THE STAR
(A Song)
O little one away so far,?You cannot hear me when I sing.
You cannot tell me what you are,?I cannot tell you anything.
THE BUTTERBEAN TENT
All through the garden I went and went,?And I walked in under the butterbean tent.
The poles leaned up like a good tepee?And made a nice little house for me.
I had a hard brown clod for a seat,?And all outside was a cool green street.
A little green worm and a butterfly?And a cricket-like thing that could hop went by.
Hidden away there were flocks and flocks?Of bugs that could go like little clocks.
Such a good day it was when I spent?A long, long while in the butterbean tent.
BIG BROTHER
Our brother Clarence goes to school.?He has a slate and a blue school-bag.?He has a book and a copybook?And a scholar's companion and a little slate rag.
He knows a boy named Joe B. Kirk,?And he learns about c-a-t cat,?And how to play one-two-sky-blue,?And how to make a football out of a hat.
We climb up on the fence and gate?And watch until he's small and dim,?Far up the street, and he looks back?To see if we keep on watching him.
MR. WELLS
On Sunday morning, then he comes?To church, and everybody smells?The blacking and the toilet soap?And camphor balls from Mr. Wells.
He wears his whiskers in a bunch,?And wears his glasses on his head.?I mustn't call him Old Man Wells--?No matter--that's what Father said.
And when the little blacking smells?And camphor balls and soap begin,?I do not have to look to know?That Mr. Wells is coming in.
DICK AND WILL
Our brother says that Will was born?The very day that Dickie came;?When one is four the other is,?And all their birthdays are the same.
Their coats and waists are just alike;?They have their hats together, too.?They sleep together in one bed,?And Will can put on Dickie's shoe.
But they are not the same at all;?Two different boys they have to be,?For Dick can play in Mother's room?When Will is climbing in a tree.
Or maybe Will is on the porch?To cry because he stubbed his toe,?And Dick is laughing by the gate?And watching ants go in a row.
THE PILASTER
The church has pieces jutting out?Where corners of the walls begin.?I have one for my little house,?And I can feel myself go in.
I feel myself go in the bricks,?And I can see myself in there.?I'm always waiting all alone,?I'm sitting on a little chair.
And I am sitting very still,?And I am waiting on and on?For something that is never there,?For something that is gone.
FIREFLY
(A Song)
A little light is going by,?Is going up to see the sky,?A little light with wings.
I never could have thought of it,?To have a little bug all lit?And made to go on wings.
LITTLE RAIN
When I was making myself a game?Up in the garden, a little rain came.
It fell down quick in a sort of rush,?And I crawled back under the snowball bush.
I could hear the big drops hit the ground?And see little puddles of dust fly round.
A chicken came till the rain was gone;?He had just a very few feathers on.
He shivered a little under his skin,?And then he shut his eyeballs in.
Even after the rain had begun to hush?It kept on raining up in the bush.
One big flat drop came sliding down,?And a ladybug that was red and brown
Was up on a little stem waiting there,?And I got some rain in my hair.
THE PULPIT
On Sunday when I go to church?I wear my dress that's trimmed with lace.?I sit beside my mother and?Am very quiet in my place.
When Dr. Brown is reading hymns?To make the people want to sing,?Or when he preaches loud and makes?The shivery bells begin to ring,
I watch the little pulpit house--?It isn't very tall or wide--?And then I wonder all about?The little ones that live inside.
When Dr. Brown has preached enough,?And when he is about to stop,?He stands behind the little house?And shuts the Bible on the top.
I wonder if _they_ sit inside,?And if _they_ cook and walk up stairs.?I wonder if _they_ have a cat?And say some kind of little prayers.
I wonder if _they're_ ever scared?Because the bedroom lamp goes out,?And what their little dreams are like?And what _they_ wonder all about.
ON THE HILL
Mother said that we could go?Up on the hill where the strawberries grow.
And while I was there I looked all down,?Over the trees and over the town.
I saw the field where the big boys play,?And the roads that come from every