 | Poems for children |  |
149
THE KAISERBLUMEN.
Have you heard of the Kaiserblume,
O little children sweet,
That grows in the fields of Germany,
Light waving among the wheat?
O little children sweet,
That grows in the fields of Germany,
Light waving among the wheat?
'T is only a simple flower,
But were I to try all day,
Its grace and charm and beauty
I could n't begin to say.
But were I to try all day,
Its grace and charm and beauty
I could n't begin to say.
By field and wood and roadside,
Delicate, hardy, and bold,
It scatters in wild profusion
Its blossoms manifold.
Delicate, hardy, and bold,
It scatters in wild profusion
Its blossoms manifold.
The children love it dearly,
And with dancing feet they go
To seek it with song and laughter;
And all the people know
And with dancing feet they go
To seek it with song and laughter;
And all the people know
Stern Kaiser Wilhelm loves it;
He said, “It shall honored be,
Henceforth 't is the Kaiserblume,
The flower of Germany.”
He said, “It shall honored be,
Henceforth 't is the Kaiserblume,
The flower of Germany.”
150
Then he bade his soldiers wear it,
Tied in a gay cockade,
And the quaint and humble blossom
His royal token made.
Tied in a gay cockade,
And the quaint and humble blossom
His royal token made.
Said little Hans to Gretchen,
One summer morning fair,
As they played in the fields together,
And sang in the fragrant air:
One summer morning fair,
As they played in the fields together,
And sang in the fragrant air:
“Oh look at the Kaiserblumen
That grow in the grass so thick!
Let 's gather our arms full, Gretchen,
And take to the Emperor, quick!
That grow in the grass so thick!
Let 's gather our arms full, Gretchen,
And take to the Emperor, quick!
“For never were any so beautiful,
Waving so blue and bright.”
So all they could carry they gathered,
Dancing with their delight.
Waving so blue and bright.”
So all they could carry they gathered,
Dancing with their delight.
Then under the blazing sunshine
They trudged o'er the long, white road
That led to the Kaiser's palace,
With their gayly nodding load.
They trudged o'er the long, white road
That led to the Kaiser's palace,
With their gayly nodding load.
But long ere the streets of the city
They trod with their little feet,
As hot they grew and as tired
As their corn flowers bright and sweet.
They trod with their little feet,
As hot they grew and as tired
As their corn flowers bright and sweet.
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And Gretchen's cheeks were rosy
With a weary travel stain,
And her tangled hair o'er her blue, blue eyes
Fell down in a golden rain.
With a weary travel stain,
And her tangled hair o'er her blue, blue eyes
Fell down in a golden rain.
And at last all the nodding blossoms
Their shining heads hung down;
But, “Cheer up, Gretchen!” cried little Hans,
We 've almost reached the town.
Their shining heads hung down;
But, “Cheer up, Gretchen!” cried little Hans,
We 've almost reached the town.
“We'll knock at the door of the palace.
And won't he be glad to see
The flowers we 've brought so far for him?
Think, Gretchen, how pleased he'll be!”
And won't he be glad to see
The flowers we 've brought so far for him?
Think, Gretchen, how pleased he'll be!”
So they plodded patiently onward,
And with hands so soft and small
They knocked at the palace portal,
And sweetly did cry and call:
And with hands so soft and small
They knocked at the palace portal,
And sweetly did cry and call:
“Please open the door, O Kaiser!
We 've brought some flowers for you,
Our arms full of Kaiserblumen,
All gay and bright and blue!”
We 've brought some flowers for you,
Our arms full of Kaiserblumen,
All gay and bright and blue!”
But nobody heeded or answered,
Till at last a soldier grand
Bade the weary wanderers leave the gate,
With a gruff and stern command.
Till at last a soldier grand
Bade the weary wanderers leave the gate,
With a gruff and stern command.
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But, “No!” cried the children, weeping;
Though trembling and sore afraid,
And clasping their faded flowers,
“We must come in!” they said.
Though trembling and sore afraid,
And clasping their faded flowers,
“We must come in!” they said.
A lofty and splendid presence
The echoing stair came down;
To know the king there was no need
That he should wear a crown.
The echoing stair came down;
To know the king there was no need
That he should wear a crown.
And the children cried: “O Kaiser,
We have brought your flowers so far!
And we are so tired and hungry!
See, Emperor, here they are!”
We have brought your flowers so far!
And we are so tired and hungry!
See, Emperor, here they are!”
They held up their withered posies,
While into the Emperor's face
A beautiful light came stealing,
And he stooped with a stately grace;
While into the Emperor's face
A beautiful light came stealing,
And he stooped with a stately grace;
Taking the ruined blossoms,
With gentle words and mild
He comforted with kindness
The heart of each trembling child.
With gentle words and mild
He comforted with kindness
The heart of each trembling child.
And that was a wonderful glory
That the little ones befell!
And when their heads are hoary,
They still will the story tell,
That the little ones befell!
And when their heads are hoary,
They still will the story tell,
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How they sat at the Kaiser's table,
And dined with princes and kings,
In that far off day of splendor,
Filled full of marvellous things!
And dined with princes and kings,
In that far off day of splendor,
Filled full of marvellous things!
And home, when the sun was setting,
The happy twain were sent,
In a gleaming golden carriage,
With horses magnificent.
The happy twain were sent,
In a gleaming golden carriage,
With horses magnificent.
And like the wildest vision
Of fairy-land it seemed;
Hardly could Hans and Gretchen
Believe they had not dreamed.
Of fairy-land it seemed;
Hardly could Hans and Gretchen
Believe they had not dreamed.
And even their children's children
Eager to hear will be,
How they carried to Kaiser Wilhelm
The flowers of Germany.
Eager to hear will be,
How they carried to Kaiser Wilhelm
The flowers of Germany.
| Poems for children | |