Part 4

The windmill stands up like a flower on the hill With its petals a-whirling--they seldom stay still-- And its funny old voice creaking all the long day As it scolds little breezes for running away.

Cat-Fish

The cat-fish with whiskers that lives in the brook, Is an ugly old beast with the wickedest look. I suppose there were mouse-fish one time in brook town Till that ugly old cat-fish gulped all of them down.

Visiting

You and I shall travel far, We'll pass the old earth by, We'll ride the moon and drive a star Across the evening sky.

We'll flash upon the milky way To pay Dame Night a call-- But should we happen on old Day-- We'd fall and fall and fall.

Castles

I used to build me castles of moisty sand and shells, And dream they were for princesses who wove me magic spells; But yesterday along the beach my fairy princess came-- And she's too big for castles--now isn't that a shame!

Parenthood

The birches that dance on the top of the hill Are so slender and young that they cannot keep still, They bend and they nod at each whiff of a breeze, For you see they are still just the children of trees.

But the birches below in the valley are older, They are calmer and straighter and taller and colder. Perhaps when we've grown up as solemn and grave, We, too, will have children who do not behave!

SONGS OF CIRCUMSTANCE

Moral Song

Oh, so cool In his deep green pool Was a frog on a log one day! He would blink his eyes As he snapped at flies, For his mother was away, For his mother was away!

Now that naughty frog Left his own home log And started out to play. He flipped and he flopped And he never stopped Till he reached the great blue bay, Till he reached the great blue bay!

Alas, with a swish Came a mighty fish, And swallowed him where he lay. Now it's things like this That never miss Little frogs who don't obey, Little frogs who don't obey!

Serious Omission

I know that there are dragons, St. George's, Jason's, too, And many modern dragons With scales of green and blue;

But though I've been there many times And carefully looked through, I can't find a dragon In the cages at the zoo!

Choice

If I had just one penny On the Fourth of July, Oh, what a problem it would be To think what I should buy!

With lollypops and fire-works, With cakes and whiz-bangs, too, With tops and candy cigarettes, Whatever should I do?

Torpedoes have a splendid noise, But noise is quickly past, And the sweetness of a lollypop Is something that will last.

Natural Fireworks

The fireflies in the valley Are having their display Among the river willows Like little bits of day!

Come, light your silver sparkler And wave it in the air. Go dance among the willows And sprinkle sparkles there.

Then, oh, the world will wonder To see the willows shine, And even the fireflies will not know Their tiny sparks from mine.

Conspiracy