[The crab-catchers, in] The poet and the children Carefully selected poems from the works of the best and most popular writers for children |
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 | [The crab-catchers, in] The poet and the children |  |
215
THE CRAB-CATCHERS.
(A Summer-Day Sermon.)
Lovely space of tranquil sea
Under soft and brooding skies,
Where the clouds lie peacefully,
Where the white gull floats and flies.
Under soft and brooding skies,
Where the clouds lie peacefully,
Where the white gull floats and flies.
With what joy on such a day
Youth's glad pulses lightly beat!
Sweet the sun's caressing ray,
And the warm wind's whisper sweet.
Youth's glad pulses lightly beat!
Sweet the sun's caressing ray,
And the warm wind's whisper sweet.
Just to live and see and hear,
That is quite enough delight,
Winds and waves to charm the ear,
Sky and sea to fill the sight.
That is quite enough delight,
Winds and waves to charm the ear,
Sky and sea to fill the sight.
Just to live, such bliss may bring—
Why should taking life away
From the smallest living thing
Help the beauty of the day?
Why should taking life away
From the smallest living thing
Help the beauty of the day?
Ah, my boys, 'tis sweet to live—
Just to live! I wonder why
Taking what you may not give
Should make pleasure's heart beat high!
Just to live! I wonder why
Taking what you may not give
Should make pleasure's heart beat high!
Listen!—If upon the sand
Where your naked feet are set,
As you unsuspecting stand,
What if—just to pay a debt—
Where your naked feet are set,
As you unsuspecting stand,
What if—just to pay a debt—
One of these unhappy crabs
Sought your unprotected feet,
Gave you gashes, pricks and stabs:
Would you find such pastime sweet?
Sought your unprotected feet,
Gave you gashes, pricks and stabs:
Would you find such pastime sweet?
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Ah, you give so thoughtlessly
Such unnecessary pain!
If you cannot let them be,
Why thus torture them in vain?
Such unnecessary pain!
If you cannot let them be,
Why thus torture them in vain?
Death at last ends each and all;
But does even a crab deserve
That such torment should befall
Shrinking flesh and outraged nerve?
But does even a crab deserve
That such torment should befall
Shrinking flesh and outraged nerve?
Threaded on this barbarous string,
Quivering claws outstretching wide,
Heavily they drop and swing
O'er the clear and placid tide.
Quivering claws outstretching wide,
Heavily they drop and swing
O'er the clear and placid tide.
And for me the picture's charm—
Floating bird and careless boy,
Summer's peace, and warmth and balm—
Does this cruelty destroy.
Floating bird and careless boy,
Summer's peace, and warmth and balm—
Does this cruelty destroy.
Thick about you pleasures throng,
Happy children, everywhere:
Do no helpless being wrong,
God's dumb, piteous creatures spare!
Happy children, everywhere:
Do no helpless being wrong,
God's dumb, piteous creatures spare!
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