 | Later Poems |  |
26
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
They say I'm very foolish;
They hint it isn't right,
To love one little black sheep
Far more than all the white!
They hint it isn't right,
To love one little black sheep
Far more than all the white!
The white sheep are gentle,
And never apt to stray;
My black sheep is often cross,
And sometimes runs away.
And never apt to stray;
My black sheep is often cross,
And sometimes runs away.
My black sheep is sometimes
The very naughtiest
Of all naughty things that be!
Yet I love him best!
The very naughtiest
Of all naughty things that be!
Yet I love him best!
He flings me defiance;
Pretends to butt me too;
He scampers when I want him, off
To the hillside blue;
Pretends to butt me too;
He scampers when I want him, off
To the hillside blue;
So fast I cannot catch him,
But e'en must sit and wait
Until he comes back again,
When he has gaed his gait.
But e'en must sit and wait
Until he comes back again,
When he has gaed his gait.
27
Sometimes, all unweary,
Comes my bonny thing;
(Bonny heather-smell doth love
Round his fleece to cling.)
Comes my bonny thing;
(Bonny heather-smell doth love
Round his fleece to cling.)
Comes with a strange light,
A strange depth in his eyes,
Caught from where I do not know,
In some unknown wise:
A strange depth in his eyes,
Caught from where I do not know,
In some unknown wise:
Looks into my face, then,
Till indeed I seem
Like to one that knoweth not
If he see or dream.
Till indeed I seem
Like to one that knoweth not
If he see or dream.
But in a moment,
Broken is the spell;
Off goes my black sheep,
Where, I cannot tell!
Broken is the spell;
Off goes my black sheep,
Where, I cannot tell!
Bad little black sheep!
How you plague me,—oh,
They tell me I must tether you,
Never let you go!
How you plague me,—oh,
They tell me I must tether you,
Never let you go!
Such a tiny radius
You'd have!—but where's the good?
I wonder who could tether you,
If indeed he would!
You'd have!—but where's the good?
I wonder who could tether you,
If indeed he would!
O bonny black sheep,
If you make me fret,
Just a minute's look at you,
And I quite forget!
If you make me fret,
Just a minute's look at you,
And I quite forget!
Dear, I would not change you,
Even if I could;
Naughtiest of naughty things!
Best of all the good!
Even if I could;
Naughtiest of naughty things!
Best of all the good!
28
“Baa, baa, black sheep!
Have you any wool?”
“Yes, sir, that I have,
Three bags full!”
Have you any wool?”
“Yes, sir, that I have,
Three bags full!”
Three bags, black sheep,
Very soft and fine!
Richest fleece on all the downs,
Bonny black sheep mine.
Very soft and fine!
Richest fleece on all the downs,
Bonny black sheep mine.
One lock of your wool
Is worth the Golden Fleece
Brought in the olden time
From the land of Greece.
Is worth the Golden Fleece
Brought in the olden time
From the land of Greece.
Black sheep, black sheep,
I would not have you tame:
Oh, but life has gone on wings,
Since the day you came!
I would not have you tame:
Oh, but life has gone on wings,
Since the day you came!
If you bring trouble,
Weariness, annoy,
Better than the fairest calm,
Is your gift, joy.
Weariness, annoy,
Better than the fairest calm,
Is your gift, joy.
Black sheep, comely sheep,
Wander at your will;
Come belated, early come,
And welcome still.
Wander at your will;
Come belated, early come,
And welcome still.
For black sheep, black sheep,
Right well I know
Little were the whole world's worth,
If you must go.
Right well I know
Little were the whole world's worth,
If you must go.
| Later Poems | |