Part 3 (1/2)

--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.