The Children's Garland from the Best Poets I THE CHILD AND THE PIPER Piping down the valleys wild, And he, laughing, said to me, 'Pipe a song about a lamb,' So I piped with merry cheer ; 'Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe, While he wept with joy to hear. 'Piper, sit thee down and write In a book that all may read.' B And I made a rural pen, W. Blake II ON MAY MORNING Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. Hail, bounteous May, that doth inspire Mirth and youth and warm desire! Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and daie doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. J. Milton III THE APPROACH OF THE FAIRIES Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf behowls the moon ; Whilst the scritch owl, scritching loud, Puts the wretch that lies in woe, That the graves, all gaping wide, By the triple Hecate's team, Through the house give glimmering light; Every elf and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier; W. Shakespeare IV ANSWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION Do you ask what the birds say? The sparrow, the dove, The linnet, and thrush say 'I love, and I love!' In the winter they're silent, the wind is so strong; And singing and loving-all come back together. V THE BROOK I come from haunts of coot and hern, And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down a valley. By thirty hills I hurry down, Or slip between the ridges, Till last by Philip's farm I flow I chatter over stony ways, With many a curve my bank I fret And many a fairy foreland set With willow-weed and mallow. I chatter, chatter, as I flow For men may come, and men may go, I wind about, and in and out, And here and there a foamy flake With many a silvery waterbreak And draw them all along and flow For men may come, and men may go, I steal by lawns and grassy plots, I move the sweet forget-me-nots I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance, |