Poetry for Children By Charles and Mary Lamb: To which are added Prince Dorus and some uncollected poems by Charles Lamb: Edited, prefaced and annotated by Richard Herne Shepherd |
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 | Poetry for Children |  |
53
WHAT IS FANCY?
SISTER.I am to write three lines, and you
Three others that will rhyme.
There—now I've done my task.
BROTHER.
Three stupid lines as e'er I knew.
When you've the pen next time,
Some question of me ask.
SISTER.
Then tell me, brother, and pray mind,
Brother, you tell me true:
What sort of thing is fancy?
BROTHER.
By all that I can ever find,
'Tis something that is very new,
And what no dunces can see.
54
That is not half the way to tell
What fancy is about;
So pray now tell me more.
BROTHER.
Sister, I think 'twere quite as well
That you should find it out;
So think the matter o'er.
SISTER.
It's what comes in our heads when we
Play at “Let's-make-believe,”
And when we play at “Guessing.”
BROTHER.
And I have heard it said to be
A talent often makes us grieve,
And sometimes proves a blessing.
| Poetry for Children | |