Part 5

NORTH-WEST PASSAGE 50

And face with an undaunted tread The long black passage up to bed.

PICTURE-BOOKS IN WINTER 64

Water now is turned to stone Nurse and I can walk upon; Still we find the flowing brooks In the picture story-books.

THE LITTLE LAND 74

I have just to shut my eyes To go sailing through the skies-- To go sailing far away To the pleasant Land of Play;

THE FLOWERS 84

All the names I know from nurse: Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse, Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock, And the Lady Hollyhock.

TO AUNTIE 100

What did the other children do? And what were childhood, wanting you?

A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES

BED IN SUMMER

In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. In summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see The birds still hopping on the tree, Or hear the grown-up people's feet Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?

A THOUGHT

It is very nice to think The world is full of meat and drink, With little children saying grace In every Christian kind of place.

AT THE SEA-SIDE

When I was down beside the sea A wooden spade they gave to me To dig the sandy shore.

My holes were empty like a cup. In every hole the sea came up, Till it could come no more.

YOUNG NIGHT-THOUGHT

All night long and every night, When my mama puts out the light, I see the people marching by, As plain as day, before my eye.

Armies and emperors and kings, All carrying different kinds of things, And marching in so grand a way, You never saw the like by day.

So fine a show was never seen At the great circus on the green; For every kind of beast and man Is marching in that caravan.

At first they move a little slow, But still the faster on they go, And still beside them close I keep Until we reach the town of Sleep.

WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN

A child should always say what's true And speak when he is spoken to, And behave mannerly at table; At least as far as he is able.

RAIN