--You must just believe!

THE PLAYMATE

Last year I played with the country, This year, with the sea, Now the queer old city Stops and plays with me.--

Stops in its counting of pennies (It never, never fails To know the time I'm going to bed)-- And tells me fairy tales.

THANKSGIVING

The turkey is a mournful bird From all that I have ever heard; If he could live this day to see How very thankful he would be!

THE NEST

That tree has a nest, And if I lie Quite still, and if I Have luck, I may see Two heads or three Stretched out. Hark! hark!

Wings sound! And a dark Shadow comes flying Through boughs. They are trying To reach the food that the large bird brings.

Unfinished wings Are such curious things!

They are almost old enough to fly, The three. If they knew As I do, and you, That nests are cozier than the sky!

[Ill.u.s.tration: UNFINISHED WINGS ARE SUCH CURIOUS THINGS]

THE ORANGE

The sky is a greedy child Who holds one Yellow orange in her hand: It is the sun.

She holds it primly: Then, hid from sight, All in the darkness, Eats it at night.

I ALMOST GOT TO FAIRYLAND ONE DAY--

I almost got to Fairyland, one day-- I walked out straight along the sun-path, so.

And there were little hummings in the world, And moving things went through the gra.s.s, and all The air was just as glad as if there were A party, somewhere, at a fairy's house.

I knew they had a party, and I knew That they had kept a seat for me, if I Could only find the right turn in the road.

I was so near to Fairyland, so near That I could almost hear the fairy gates Swing open for me, waiting--just for me.

I was so near to Fairyland--and then, Just then, I heard my mother calling me; "Come in to supper, dear," I heard her call; And so I never got to Fairyland.

I know that there are fairies, though, because I almost got to Fairyland one day.

UNTRAINED TRAINS

A train should never jump the track; Such rude behavior shows a lack Of poise--it's really a disgrace!

A train should know its proper place!

HANDICAPPED

I run as fast as I can go When trains run past our place; They're bigger far than I, and so They always win the race!

A SUNSET

Life seems so sweet! I don't know why,-- Perhaps 't is just because the sky Put on, to-night, to make me glad, A dress I didn't know she had.

TO SHIPS

Tall ships, tall ships, sailing out to sea, Have you in your dreaming hearts any room for me, For a little singing maid who would sail with you Out to where the ocean miles are blue, blue, blue?

Tall ships, tall ships, loosening from sh.o.r.e, Steering all by star-craft, and sailing evermore, Take a little wishful maid with you as you go!

I would feel the ocean tempests blow, blow, blow!

Tall ships, tall ships, see, I stretch my hands!

Pray you, take me with you to far and foreign lands!

Ships, an eager little maid prays that she may be Sailing, as you sail, forever free, free, free!