Part 5

The sun has a face that is laughing and red When nurse pulls me out in the morning from bed; But he's not half so sly as the silly old moon, Who winks when I'm sent to my bedroom too soon.

Cuckoo Clock

The cuckoo in the clock by day Is usually very gay; And that's because, with people near, There's not a thing for him to fear;

But when the sitting room is dim And no one's there to welcome him-- How tremblingly he must come out To flap his wings and look about.

Why! Only just the other night The cuckoo stopped the clock from fright!

The Sentinel

I'm only a little toy dough-boy, And I have neither sorrows nor fears; But I patiently wait, With my gun pointed straight And my helmet pulled down on my ears.

The ugly wood lions and tigers May show their white teeth if they please, If the whole Noah's ark Should threaten and bark It wouldn't unstiffen my knees.

And some day when you are a soldier With your helmet pulled down on your ears I'll still be as straight As I wonder and wait, Standing my watch through the years.

Royalty

If I should meet a king or queen Upon the street some day, Do you think that I'd be frightened? Why, I'd know just what to say.

"Your reverend majesties," I'd say, And humbly bow the knee, "I am your very humble swain, And will you honor me?"

The king would strike my shoulder With a sword of passing might, He'd lift me grandly to my feet, He'd say, "Arise, O Knight!"

Oh, I would not be frightened, For I've seen kings galore, Don't you think it's just to learn of them That playing cards are for?

Crackers

Oh, there are very many kinds Of crackers, great and small, Saltines and ginger-snaps and such, I'd like to eat them all;

But there's a kind of cracker That I need much worse, A bright red giant cracker To set off under nurse!

The Drum

The drum's a very quiet fellow When he's left alone; But oh, how he does roar and bellow, Rattle, snap and groan, Clatter, spatter, dash and patter, Rumble, shriek and moan Whene'er I take my sticks in hand And beat him soundly for the band.

Theatricals

Now I'll play at being queen, Hold my head quite stiff and haughty, Always proud and never naughty, Sweeping grandly down the green.

Or I'll be a moonlight fairy, Bobbing lightly on the river, Dancing where the shadows quiver, Winged and shining, swift and wary.

If the doctor thinks I'm sick, He's just silly. I am not! I'm just tired and very hot, Hating drink that's sweet and thick.

Flowers dance across the walls, Mother's face seems far away, She's the audience, I'm the play, She will clap for curtain calls.

No!--I do not want to play! Seven thrones around my bed, Circling gold about my head-- Angels always fly away!

Sally

If I were a stately sailboat, I'd sail to Zanzibar, I'd sail the seven secret seas, Where the secret cities are, And some day I'd be sailing with the wind before my prow, And all the mermaids of the sea would clamber up the bow. They'd beckon me with laughter, They'd beckon me with smiles, They'd show me cakes and candies In half a dozen styles, They'd promise me a life of ease Eating sweets beneath the seas, They'd promise me a life of play-- A never ending holiday; But I would say quite plainly, And, oh, how stern I'd look! Do you think that you can tempt me While Sally is our cook?

If I were a little fire balloon I'd float aloft to Mars, I'd pay a call on Venus And chatter with the stars, And just as I'd be fluttering across the yellow moon, The angels would come singing a solemn Sunday tune. They'd beckon to me gravely, They'd tell me I could stay, They'd show me all the jewels That pave the milky way. They'd promise me a golden crown And silver robes like eider-down, They'd give me harps with shiny strings And wonderfully fluffy wings; BUT--I would tell them plainly I didn't want to die-- Till all the angel cooks had learned How Sally makes mince pie!