 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
49
THE PRINCESS
I'm a little Princess, and I live in a home
Without window or chimney or staircase or dome.
Without window or chimney or staircase or dome.
Though my flesh is as white as a basin of milk,
Yet I cover it all with a thin piece of silk.
Yet I cover it all with a thin piece of silk.
Though the smarter Princesses may rustle and mock,
I despise change of fashion, and wear the same frock,
I despise change of fashion, and wear the same frock,
Believing the colour and cut are the best
That were chosen for me when my body was dressed,
That were chosen for me when my body was dressed,
And delighted in meadow, contented by stream,
With my costume the colour of dairymaid's cream.
With my costume the colour of dairymaid's cream.
I have brothers and sisters and cousins in scores,
Yet I never consent to receive them indoors,
Yet I never consent to receive them indoors,
For I'm anxious and busy in working to rhyme
Exactly with Nature, and cannot spare time
Exactly with Nature, and cannot spare time
To gossip and giggle and loll in a chair
With a riband and tortoiseshell comb in my hair;
With a riband and tortoiseshell comb in my hair;
Or to grieve the piano by thumping a scale,
Till the white notes look black and the black notes look pale;
Till the white notes look black and the black notes look pale;
For my duty-in-chief is to grow in my dress
Of remarkable silk to a perfect Princess,
Of remarkable silk to a perfect Princess,
50
And so to behave that the King of our race
Shall consider my work with a smile on His face.
Shall consider my work with a smile on His face.
I'm a little Princess, and I live in a home
Without window or chimney or staircase or dome.
Without window or chimney or staircase or dome.
When the stars cool the forest, I always keep snug
In a bed without eiderdown, blanket, or rug;
In a bed without eiderdown, blanket, or rug;
And I cuddle in solitude, warm and aloof
From the crack of the thunder, the rain on the roof.
From the crack of the thunder, the rain on the roof.
When the Dawn shakes my shoulder, I never complain,
Or lie lazy in bed till I slumber again,
Or lie lazy in bed till I slumber again,
For I'm glad to be busy at working to rhyme
Exactly with Nature, and must not lose time.
Exactly with Nature, and must not lose time.
Little Children, perhaps you are longing to guess
What's the name of the girl in the everyday dress,
What's the name of the girl in the everyday dress,
With a body as white as a basin of milk,
Though she covers it all with a thin piece of silk.
Though she covers it all with a thin piece of silk.
I am Hazel the Woodnut! I live in a home
Without window or chimney or staircase or dome.
Without window or chimney or staircase or dome.
I am Hazel the Woodnut, determined to rhyme
Exactly with Nature, and never waste time;
Exactly with Nature, and never waste time;
For my duty-in-chief is to grow in my dress
Of remarkable silk to a perfect Princess,
Of remarkable silk to a perfect Princess,
And so to behave that the King of our race
Shall examine my work with a smile on His face.
Shall examine my work with a smile on His face.
| A merry-go-round of song | |