 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
31
THE PRISONER
“Oh, dear!” I said, for I had heard a nasty little slap,
“Another mouse has caught himself in Auntie Ada's trap—
Another silly mousikin has left his mother's knees
And fallen victim to the charms of toasted Cheddar cheese!”
“Another mouse has caught himself in Auntie Ada's trap—
Another silly mousikin has left his mother's knees
And fallen victim to the charms of toasted Cheddar cheese!”
I reached behind the big arm-chair, exploring with a stick,
And thought I heard a piping voice exclaim, “Be quick! Be quick!”
At last I gave the prison such a smart and sudden rap
That out it came. A Fairy's foot was tortured in the trap!
And thought I heard a piping voice exclaim, “Be quick! Be quick!”
At last I gave the prison such a smart and sudden rap
That out it came. A Fairy's foot was tortured in the trap!
My dearest children, you can guess that then, without a pause,
I knelt to free the tiny foot, and stroked the wings of gauze,
And took the Fairy to the fire to nurse upon my knee,
And listened while she told her tale heartbrokenly to me.
I knelt to free the tiny foot, and stroked the wings of gauze,
And took the Fairy to the fire to nurse upon my knee,
And listened while she told her tale heartbrokenly to me.
She'd run away from Fairyland because she longed to know
A township where the noisy crowds of human beings grow,
And drive the giant omnibus, and disappear in holes,
And rush about inside the earth like families of moles.
A township where the noisy crowds of human beings grow,
32
And rush about inside the earth like families of moles.
No taller than a toddling child, and only half as bold,
The lost and lovely Fairyling was very sweet to hold
Beside the winter flaming of the fire that seemed to stare
So rudely at her tangled cloud of chestnut-coloured hair.
The lost and lovely Fairyling was very sweet to hold
Beside the winter flaming of the fire that seemed to stare
So rudely at her tangled cloud of chestnut-coloured hair.
In sudden loops of frolic, in gay and rapid rings,
She flew about for me to watch the glitter of her wings;
And when at last she folded them, she danced upon the floor
Such dances as a mortal man had never seen before!
She flew about for me to watch the glitter of her wings;
And when at last she folded them, she danced upon the floor
Such dances as a mortal man had never seen before!
“Ah, never go away!” I said. “Keep house, dear child, with me.
I want to stroke you often while you sit upon my knee.”
She promised with a clinging kiss she'd never more depart,
Contented to be prisoned in the mouse-trap of my heart.
I want to stroke you often while you sit upon my knee.”
She promised with a clinging kiss she'd never more depart,
Contented to be prisoned in the mouse-trap of my heart.
| A merry-go-round of song | |