love-songs of childhood-第6节
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Through the moonlight that floats on the floor。
For it's only at night； when the stars twinkle bright；
That the Fly…Away Horse； with a neigh
And a pull at his rein and a toss of his mane；
Is up on his heels and away！
The Moon in the sky；
As he gallopeth by；
Cries： 〃Oh！ what a marvelous sight！〃
And the Stars in dismay
Hide their faces away
In the lap of old Grandmother Night。
It is yonder； out yonder； the Fly…Away Horse
Speedeth ever and ever away …
Over meadows and lanes； over mountains and plains；
Over streamlets that sing at their play；
And over the sea like a ghost sweepeth he；
While the ships they go sailing below；
And he speedeth so fast that the men at the mast
Adjudge him some portent of woe。
〃What ho there！〃 they cry；
As he flourishes by
With a whisk of his beautiful tail；
And the fish in the sea
Are as scared as can be；
From the nautilus up to the whale！
And the Fly…Away Horse seeks those faraway lands
You little folk dream of at night …
Where candy…trees grow； and honey…brooks flow；
And corn…fields with popcorn are white；
And the beasts in the wood are ever so good
To children who visit them there …
What glory astride of a lion to ride；
Or to wrestle around with a bear！
The monkeys； they say：
〃Come on； let us play；〃
And they frisk in the cocoanut…trees：
While the parrots； that cling
To the peanut…vines； sing
Or converse with comparative ease！
Off！ scamper to bed … you shall ride him tonight！
For； as soon as you've fallen asleep；
With a jubilant neigh he shall bear you away
Over forest and hillside and deep！
But tell us； my dear； all you see and you hear
In those beautiful lands over there；
Where the Fly…Away Horse wings his faraway course
With the wee one consigned to his care。
Then grandma will cry
In amazement： 〃Oh； my！〃
And she'll think it could never be so；
And only we two
Shall know it is true …
You and I； little precious！ shall know！
SWING HIGH AND SWING LOW
Swing high and swing low
While the breezes they blow …
It's off for a sailor thy father would go；
And it's here in the harbor； in sight of the sea；
He hath left his wee babe with my song and with me：
〃Swing high and swing low
While the breezes they blow！〃
Swing high and swing low
While the breezes they blow …
It's oh for the waiting as weary days go！
And it's oh for the heartache that smiteth me when
I sing my song over and over again：
〃Swing high and swing low
While the breezes they blow！〃
〃Swing high and swing low 〃 …
The sea singeth so；
And it waileth anon in its ebb and its flow；
And a sleeper sleeps on to that song of the sea
Nor recketh he ever of mine or of me！
〃Swing high and swing low
While the breezes they blow …
'T was off for a sailor thy father would go！〃
WHEN I WAS A BOY
Up in the attic where I slept
When I was a boy； a little boy；
In through the lattice the moonlight crept；
Bringing a tide of dreams that swept
Over the low； red trundle…bed；
Bathing the tangled curly head；
While moonbeams played at hide…and…seek
With the dimples on the sun…browned cheek …
When I was a boy； a little boy！
And； oh！ the dreams … the dreams I dreamed！
When I was a boy； a little boy！
For the grace that through the lattice streamed
Over my folded eyelids seemed
To have the gift of prophecy；
And to bring me glimpses of times to be
When manhood's clarion seemed to call …
Ah！ that was the sweetest dream of all；
When I was a boy； a little boy！
I'd like to sleep where I used to sleep
When I was a boy； a little boy！
For in at the lattice the moon would peep；
Bringing her tide of dreams to sweep
The crosses and griefs of the years away
From the heart that is weary and faint to…day；
And those dreams should give me back again
A peace I have never known since then …
When I was a boy； a little boy！
AT PLAY
Play that you are mother dear；
And play that papa is your beau；
Play that we sit in the corner here；
Just as we used to； long ago。
Playing so； we lovers two
Are just as happy as we can be；
And I'll say 〃I love you〃 to you；
And you say 〃I love you〃 to me！
〃I love you〃 we both shall say；
All in earnest and all in play。
Or； play that you are that other one
That some time came； and went away；
And play that the light of years agone
Stole into my heart again to…day！
Playing that you are the one I knew
In the days that never again may be；
I'll say 〃I love you〃 to you；
And you say 〃I love you〃 to me！
I love you！〃 my heart shall say
To the ghost of the past come back to…day！
Or； play that you sought this nestling…place
For your own sweet self； with that dual guise
Of your pretty mother in your face
And the look of that other in your eyes！
So the dear old loves shall live anew
As I hold my darling on my knee；
And I'll say 〃I love you〃 to you；
And you say 〃I love you〃 to me！
Oh； many a strange； true thing we say
And do when we pretend to play！
A VALENTINE
Go； Cupid； and my sweetheart tell
I love her well。
Yes； though she tramples on my heart
And rends that bleeding thing apart；
And though she rolls a scornful eye
On doting me when I go by；
And though she scouts at everything
As tribute unto her I bring …
Apple； banana； caramel …
Haste； Cupid； to my love and tell；
In spite of all； I love her well！
And further say I have a sled
Cushioned in blue and painted red！
The groceryman has promised I
Can 〃hitch〃 whenever he goes by …
Go； tell her that； and； furthermore；
Apprise my sweetheart that a score
Of other little girls implore
The boon of riding on that sled
Painted and hitched； as aforesaid； …
And tell her； Cupid； only she
Shall ride upon that sled with me！
Tell her this all； and further tell
I love her well。
LITTLE ALL…ALONEY
Little All…Aloney's feet
Pitter…patter in the hall；
And his mother runs to meet
And to kiss her toddling sweet；
Ere perchance he fall。
He is； oh； so weak and small！
Yet what danger shall he fear
When his mother hovereth near；
And he hears her cheering call：
〃All…Aloney〃？
Little All…Aloney's face
It is all aglow with glee；
As around that romping…place
At a terrifying pace
Lungeth； plungeth he！
And that hero seems to be
All unconscious of our cheers …
Only one dear voice he hears
Calling reassuringly：
〃All…Aloney！〃
Though his legs bend with their load；
Though his feet they seem so small
That you cannot help forebode
Some disastrous episode
In that noisy hall；
Neither threatening bump nor fall
Little All…Aloney fears；
But with sweet bravado steers
Whither comes that cheery call：
〃All…Aloney！〃
Ah； that in the years to come；
When he shares of Sorrow's store； …
When his feet are chill and numb；
When his cross is burdensome；
And his heart is sore：
Would that he could hear once more
The gentle voice he used to hear …
Divine with mother love and cheer …
Calling from yonder spirit shore：
〃All； all alone！〃
SEEIN' THINGS
I ain't afeard uv snakes； or toads； or bugs； or worms； or mice；
An' things 'at girls are skeered uv I think are awful nice！
I'm pretty brave； I guess； an' yet I hate to go to bed；
For； when I'm tucked up warm an' snug an' when my prayers are said；
Mother tells me 〃Happy dreams！〃 and takes away the light；
An' leaves me lyin' all alone an' seein' things at night！
Sometimes they're in the corner； sometimes they're by the door；
Sometimes they're all a…standin' in the middle uv the floor；
Sometimes they are a…sittin' down； sometimes they're walkin' round
So softly an' so creepylike they never make a sound！
Sometimes they are as black as ink； an' other times they're white …
But the color ain't no difference when you see things at night！
Once； when I licked a feller 'at had just moved on our street；
An' father sent me up to bed without a bite to eat；
I woke up in the dark an' saw things standin' in a row；
A…lookin' at me cross…eyed an' p'intin' at me … so！
Oh； my！ I wuz so skeered that time I never slep' a mite …
It's almost alluz when I'm bad I see things at night！
Lucky thing I ain't a girl； or I'd be skeered to death！
Bein' I'm a boy； I duck my head an' hold my breath；
An' I am； oh！ so sorry I'm a naughty boy； an' then
I promise to be better an' I say my prayers again！
Gran'ma tells me that's the only way to make it right
When a feller has been wicked an' sees things at night！
An' so； when other naughty boys would coax me into sin；
I try to skwush the Tempter's voice 'at urges me within；
An' when they's pie for supper； or cakes 'at 's big an' nice；
I want to … but I do not pass my plate f'r them things twice！
No； ruther let Starvation wipe me slowly out o' sight
Than I should keep a…livin' on an' seein' things at night！
TH
