 | A Flight of Fancies |  |
82
THREE INVITATIONS
“I am waiting, Little Children,” said the Breeze,
“I am waiting for the tangles of your hair.
I will show you how I play with the merry jets of spray,
And will teach you half the boldness that I dare.
In the winter you may dally
Near a village of a valley
Where the robins puff their scarlet in the trees;
But in summer bring you voices
Where the Sea-side wind rejoices
When he drives the breakers in to hug your knees.”
“I am waiting for the tangles of your hair.
I will show you how I play with the merry jets of spray,
And will teach you half the boldness that I dare.
In the winter you may dally
Near a village of a valley
Where the robins puff their scarlet in the trees;
But in summer bring you voices
Where the Sea-side wind rejoices
When he drives the breakers in to hug your knees.”
“Come and frolic, Little Children!” cried the Sand,
“Come and frolic on the playground I have spread
With the colour that is worn by the Crocus, when he's born
With a lamp of beauty blazing on his head.
While the porter down the narrow
Gangway guides the loaded barrow,
And your Father puts a shilling in his hand,
Take your seats for fun and freckles,
Sidmouth, Aberdovey, Beccles,
Or some other golden-coasted edge of land!”
“Come and frolic on the playground I have spread
With the colour that is worn by the Crocus, when he's born
With a lamp of beauty blazing on his head.
83
Gangway guides the loaded barrow,
And your Father puts a shilling in his hand,
Take your seats for fun and freckles,
Sidmouth, Aberdovey, Beccles,
Or some other golden-coasted edge of land!”
“I am waiting, Little Children,” cried the Sea,
“For my Williams, Robins, Dorothys, and Megs;
For the castle and the moat, for the two-foot cargo-boat,
And the friendliness of fat and busy legs.
When you bring your welcome faces
From the far-off inland places,
With a dozen times a dozen sorts of glee,
I shall thunder on the shoulders
Of the tough and giant boulders,
And shall roar my satisfaction to the quay!”
“For my Williams, Robins, Dorothys, and Megs;
For the castle and the moat, for the two-foot cargo-boat,
And the friendliness of fat and busy legs.
When you bring your welcome faces
From the far-off inland places,
With a dozen times a dozen sorts of glee,
I shall thunder on the shoulders
Of the tough and giant boulders,
And shall roar my satisfaction to the quay!”
| A Flight of Fancies | |