THE GREENWOOD TREEUnder the greenwood treeWho loves to lie with me,And turn his merry noteUnto the sweet bird's throat,Come hither, come hither, come hither:Here shall he seeNo enemyBu… Read More

A CITY SAND-PILEChildren in a sand-pileOn a dingy street-Building men had left it there,Little did they think or careChildren small would find it fairAnd run with eager feet.Children in a sa… Read More

THE HORSE TROUGHClouds of children round the troughSplash and clatter in the sun:Their clouted shoes are mostly off,And some are quarrelling, and oneCools half her face, nose downward bubbli… Read More

MEG MERRILIESOld Meg she was a gipsy;And lived upon the moors;Her bed it was the brown heath turf,And her house was out of doors.Her apples were swart blackberries,Her currants, pods o' broo… Read More

THE MOWERThe rooks travelled home,The milch cows went lowing,And down in the meadowAnd old man was mowing.His shirt rank with sweat,His neck stained with grime;But he moved like the cadenceA… Read More

THE DYING DAYThe lights of even flow on high-Lilac and fading rose and gold-That drift from east into the west,For day is growing old.Still the thrush sings, the blackbirds cry,And young lam… Read More

EVENINGThe curfew tolls the knell of parting day,The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea.The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,And leaves the world to darkness and to me.Now fades the… Read More

SUMMER RAINThe mountain streams are silentOr whisper faint and low,The Earth is grateful to the dewsFor moisture which the clouds refuse;Blow, West Wind,-blow!And fall, O gentle Rain!Awake t… Read More

BRIGHT MORNINGThere was a roaring in the wind all night;The rain came heavily and fell in clouds;But now the sun is rising calin and bright:The birds are singing in the distant woods;Over hi… Read More

CUCKOOHis voice runs before me; I follow, it flies;It is now in the meadow, and now in the skies;So blithesome, so lightsome, now distant, nowhereAnd when he calls 'Cuckoo,' the summer is ne… Read More

 TO THE CUCKOOO blithe New-comer! I have heard,I hear thee and rejoice.O Cuckoo! shall I call thee Bird,Or but a wandering Voice?While I am lying on the grassThy twofold shout I hear,Fr… Read More

 THE POOR MAN'S PIGAlready fallen plum-bloom stars the green,And apple-boughs as knarred as old toads' backsWear their small roses ere a rose is seen;The building thrush watches old Job… Read More

THE PRINCESS AND THE GIPSIESAs I looked out May morningI saw the tree-tops green ;I said, 'My crown I will lay downAnd love no more a queen.'Then I tripped down my golden steps,All in my sil… Read More

 A SONGA lake and a fairy boatTo sail in the moonlight clear,And merrily we would floatFrom the dragons that watch us here.Thy gown should be snow-white silk,And strings of orient pearl… Read More

A long time ago, people used to be sold as slaves in the market place just like cattle. One day, in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, some cruel and… Read More

ROMANCEI will make you brooches and toys for your delightOf bird-song at morning and star-shine at nightI will make a palace fit for you and me,Of green days in forest and blue days at sea.I… Read More

 LADY CLAREIt was the time when lilies blow,And clouds are highest up in air,Lord Ronald brought a lily-white doeTo give his cousin, Lady Clare.I trow they did not part in scorn:Lovers… Read More

HOME-THOUGHTS FROM ABROADOh, to be in EnglandNow that April's there,For whoever wakes in EnglandSees, some morning, unaware,That the lowest boughs, and the brushwood sheafRound the elm-tree… Read More

KING AHMAK SHAHAn Arab merchant came to the courtOf Ahmak Shah one day.'Whence art thou, friend,' the king inquired;'And what is thy business, pray?'The Arab merchant bowed him downTill his… Read More

 THE WINDThe wind has a language, I would I could learn;Sometimes 'tis soothing, and sometimes 'tis stern;Sometimes it comes like a low, sweet song,And all things grow calm, as the soun… Read More

THE SAILOR'S CONSOLATIONOne night came on a hurricane,The sea was mountains rolling,When Barney Buntline turned his quid,And said to Billy Bowling:A strong nor-wester's blowing, Bill;Hark! d… Read More

A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEAA wet Sheet and a flowing sea,A wind that follows fast,And fills the white and rustling sail,And bends the gallant mast;And bends the gallant mast, my boys,While… Read More

 THE FOUR BROTHERSHithery, hethery-I love bestThe wind that blows from out the West,Breathing balm, and sweet of musk,Rosy at morning, rosy at dusk.Wind from the North, Oho, and Oh… Read More

THE POPLAR FIELDThe poplars are felled; farewell to the shade,And the whispering sound of the cool colonnade.The winds play no longer and sing in the leaves,Nor Ouse on his bosom their image… Read More

THE RIVULETFlow down, cold rivulet, to the sea,Thy tribute wave deliver:No more by thee my steps shall be,Forever and forever.Flow, softly flow, by lawn and lea,A rivulet and then a river:No… Read More

A LITTLE FARMWhen a little farm I keep,I shall tend my kine and sheep,And my pretty lambs shall foldIn deep pastures starred with gold.On green carpets shall they tread,Gold and purple be th… Read More

A REMEMBERED SCENEA little and a lone green lane,That opened on a common wide;A distant, dreamy, dim blue chainOf mountains circling every side;A heaven so clear, an earth so calm,So sweet… Read More

THE TEMPTATION OF SAINT ANTHONYGoblin came, on mischief bent,To Saint Anthony in Lent.'Come, ye goblins, small and big,We will kill the hermit's pig.'While the good monk minds his brookWe th… Read More

FIRST SPRING MORNINGLook! Look! the spring is come:O feel the gentle air,That wanders thro' the boughs to burstThe thick buds everywhere!The birds are glad to seeThe high unclouded sun:Winte… Read More

THE EMPEROR'S TENTOnce the Emperor Charles of SpainWith his swarthy, grave commanders,I forget in what campaign,Long besieged, in mud and rain,Some old frontier town of Flanders.Up and down… Read More

A MORNING DREAMUnderneath a skylight IIn my bed o'mornings lie,Staring up through window-panesMade dim by unremembered rains,And always see above my faceA wavy tree in dingy space.Beyond the… Read More

THE GLOVE AND THE LIONSKing Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royalsport,And one day, as his lions fought, sat looking onthe court;The nobles filled the benches, with the ladies intheir… Read More

WINTER EVENINGThe winter Evening settles downWith smell of steaks in passageways.Six o'clock.The burnt-out ends of smoky days.And now a gusty shower wrapsThe grimy scrapsOf withered leaves a… Read More

WINTER NIGHTFALLThe day begins to droop-It's course is done:But nothing tells the placeOf the setting sun.The hazy darkness deepens,And up the laneYou may hear, but cannot see,The homing wai… Read More

ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOGGood people all of every sort,Give ear unto my song;And if you find it wondrous short,It cannot hold you long.In Islington there was a man,Of whom the world mi… Read More

SWEET STAY-AT-HOMESweet Stay-at-Home, sweet Well-content,Thou knowest of no strange continent:Thou hast not felt thy bosom keepA gentle motion with the deep;Thou hast not sailed in Indian se… Read More

TRAVELS BY THE FIRESIDEThe ceaseless rain is falling first,And yonder glided vane,Immovable for three days past,Points to the misty main.It drives me in upon myselfAnd to the fireside gleams… Read More

 WINTERThe frost is here,And fuel is dear,And woods are sear,And fires burn clear,And frost is hereAnd has bitten the heel of the going year.Bite, frost, bite!You roll up away from the… Read More

EDDI'S SERVICE(A.D. 687)Eddi, priest of St WilfridIn the chapel at Manhood End,Ordered a midnight serviceFor such as cared to attend.But the Saxons were keeping Christmas,And the night was s… Read More

WHEN ICICLES HANGWhen icicles hang by the wall,And Dick the shepherd blows his nail,And Tom bears logs into the hall,And milk comes frozen home in pail,When blood is nipp'd, and ways be foul… Read More

OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS CUSTOMSIIGet ivy and hull, woman, deck up thine house,And take this same brawn for to seethe and tosouse;Provide us good cheer, for thou know'st the oldguise;Old customs t… Read More

OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS CUSTOMSICome bring with a noise.My merry, merry boys,The Christmas log to the firing.While my good dame sheBids ye all be freeAnd eat to your hearts' desiring.ROBERT HERRI… Read More

WINTER THE HUNTSMANThrough his iron gladesRides Winter the Huntsman,All colour fadesAs his horn is 'heard sighing.Far through the forestHis wild hooves crash and thunder,Till many a mighty b… Read More

TO THE NORTH-EAST WINDWelcome, wild North-easter!Shame it is to seeOdes to every zephyr;Ne'er a verse to thee,Welcome, black North-easter!O'er the German foam;O'er the Danish moorland,From t… Read More

FROSTA busy sprite, Frost,For sparkling and cleanAre meadowlands whereHis white feet have been.The grey wintry grasses,So soiled and so dim,Wear fingers of silverAll fashioned by him.The car… Read More

THE COMING OF WINTERThe melancholy days are come, the saddest of theyear,Oft wailing winds, and naked woods, and meadowsbrown and sere,Heaped in the hollows of the grove, the autumn lea… Read More

STALKY JACKI knew a boy who took long walks,Who lived on beans and ate the stalks;In the Giants' Country he lost his way;They kept him there for a year and a day.But he has not been the same… Read More

 LITTLESA little saint best fits a little shrine,A little prop best fits a little vine:As my small cruse best fits my little wineA little seed best fits a little soil,A little trade bes… Read More

THE FAIRIES OF THE CALDON LOW'And where have you been, my Mary,And where have you been from me?''I've been to the top of the Caldon Low,The midsummer-night to see!''And what did you see, my… Read More

SONG OF THE FAIRIESYou spotted snakes with double tongue,Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;Newts and blindworms: do no wrong,Come not near our fairy queen.Philomel, with melodySing in our sweet… Read More

THE BEGGAR MAIDHer arms across her breast she laid;She was more fair than words can say;Bare-footed came the beggar maidBefore the king Cophetua.In robe and crown the king stept down,To meet… Read More

ROBIN HOOD AND THE PEDLARThere chanced to be a pedlar bold,A pedlar bold he chanced to be;He rolled his pack all on his back,And he came tripping o'er the lea.By chance he met two troublesom… Read More

TWILIGHT III climbed a hill as light fell short,And rooks came home in scramble sort,And filled the trees and flapped and foughtAnd sang themselves to sleep;An owl from nowhere with no sound… Read More

TWILIGHTITwilight it is, and far woods are dim, and therooks cry and call.Down in the valley the lamps, and the mist, anda star over all,There by the rick, where they thresh, is the droneat… Read More

A PIPERA piper in the streets to-daySet up, and tuned, and started to play,And away, away, away on the tideOf his music we started; on every sideDoors and windows were opened wide,And men le… Read More

ARIEL'S SONGWhere the bee sucks, there suck I:In a cowslip's bell I lie;There I couch when owls do cry,On the bat's back I do flyAfter summer merrily,Merrily, merrily shall I live nowUnder t… Read More

THE FREE MANI have a penny to spend,There-thanks to nobody;I have nothing to lend,I'll borrow frae nobody.I am nobody's lord,I'll be slave to nobody;I have a guide braid sword,I'll take dunt… Read More

THE WELL OF ST KEYNEA traveller came to the well of St Keyne;Pleasant it was to his eye,For from cock-crow he had been travellingAnd there was not a cloud in the sky.He drank of the water so… Read More

A NIGHT IN JUNEThe sun has long been set,The stars are out by twos and threes,The little birds are piping yetAmong the bushes and trees;There's a cuckoo, and one or two thrushes,And a far-of… Read More

I KNOW A BANKI know a bank where the wild thyme blows,Where ox-lips and the nodding violet grows;Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine,With sweet musk-roses, and with eglantine.SHAKESPEA… Read More

RAIN IN SUMMERHow beautiful is the rain!After the dust and heat,In the broad and fiery street,In the narrow lane,How beautiful is the rain!How it clatters along the roofs,Like the tramp of h… Read More

THE CLOUDI bring fresh showersFor the thirsting flowersFrom the seas and the streams;I bear light shadeFor the leaves when laidIn their noonday dreams.From my wings are shakenThe dews that w… Read More

A TRAGIC STORYThere lived a sage in days of yoreAnd he a handsome pigtail wore;But wondered much and sorrowed moreBecause it hung behind him.He mused upon this curious case,And swore he'd ch… Read More

THE WRAGGLE TAGGLE GIPSIES, O!Three gipsies stood at the castle gate,They sang so high, they sang so low,The lady sate in her chamber late,Her heart it melted away as snow.They sang so sweet… Read More

LILAC-TIMEGo down to Kew in lilac-time, in lilac-time, inlilac-time;Go down to Kew in lilac-time (it isn't far from London!)And you shall wander hand in hand with lovein summer's wonder… Read More

THE NIGHTINGALEThere lived a Chinese Emperor(Oh, very long ago!)In a palace built of porcelainAs white as driven snow;And on its walls were painted,In colours bright and gay,Rare birds that… Read More

DREAM-MAGICThe larch-tree's a ladyWith long green sleeves,Swinging in the meadowWhere she weaves and weavesSilken soft coverletsSpun with gold seams.Sleep and you'll dream thereThe dream of… Read More

THE MERRY HEARTJog on, jog on the footpath way,And merrily hent the stile-a,A merry heart goes all the day,Your sad tires in a mile-a!SHAKESPEARESummary: 'The Merry Heart' is a short, lively… Read More

HOMEWARD BOUNDHead the ship for England!Shake out every sail!Blithe leap the billows, Merry sings the gale;Captain, work the reck'ning,How many knots a day?-Round the world and home aga… Read More