Piping Down the Valleys Wild Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, 66 66 And he, laughing, said to me: 'Pipe a song about a lamb." "Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe, While he wept with joy to hear. "Piper, sit thee down and write, And I made a rural pen ; And I stained the water clear And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear. William Blake, Lips, lips, open! A Sleeping Child Up comes a little bird that lives inside, Up comes a little bird, and peeps, and out he flies. All the day he sits inside, and sometimes he sings; Up he comes and out he goes at night to spread his wings. Little bird, little bird, whither will you go? Little bird, little bird, how long will you roam? Round the round world, and back through the air, When the morning comes, the little bird is there. Back comes the little bird, and looks, and in he flies. Up wakes the little boy, and opens both his eyes. Sleep, sleep, little boy, little bird's away, Little bird will come again by the peep of day; Sleep, sleep, little boy, little bird must go Sleep, sleep sound, little bird goes round, There's no dew left on the daisies and clover, I've said 66 my seven times " over and overSeven times one are seven. I am old! so old I can write a letter; The lambs play always, they know no better; * From “Rhymes and Jingles." By permission of Charles Scribner's Sons. O Moon! in the night I have seen you sailing, And shining so round and low; You were bright! ah, bright! but your light is failing; You are nothing now but a bow. You Moon! have you done something wrong in heaven, That God has hidden your face? I hope, if you have, you will soon be forgiven, O velvet Bee! you're a dusty fellow, O Columbine! open your folded wrapper And show me your nest with the young ones in it I will not steal them away, am old! you may trust me, Linnet, Linnet,— I am seven times one to-day. Jean Ingelow. I Remember, I Remember I remember, I remember, The house where I was born; I remember, I remember, I remember, I remember, Where I was used to swing, And thought the air must rush as fresh To swallows on the wing; My spirit flew in feathers then, That is so heavy now. And summer pools could hardly cool The fever on my brow! |