Rocking Chair
I have a little rocking chair
and how I love to sit up there
and rock away for hours on end
till both my knees will hardly bend
another time to rock some more
upon my playroom nursery floor.
I like to hear its little beat-
that soothing rhythm at my feet-
Or play like it's a great big boat
going far away, and all afloat-
Or dream a dream, or sigh a sigh
as I go right on rocking by.
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The Flame
I like to watch the candle flame.
It never seems to look the same—
but leaps and bends and twists and turns
like something there for which it yearns.
It looks as if it will jump out
of that small candle's open mouth-
but somehow yet it still stays there
-jumping, leaping, in the air.
Colors red and orange and yellow
Pleasing to this little fellow
Who sits and broods and watches there
and dreams his dreams as on he stares.
The Penny
The penny that I found-
just lying on the ground-
that you could HARDLY see-
I guess just meant for me!!
Is there something I can buy?
Oh dear, I think that I will cry-
for all the lovely things today
are oh so high, that I would say:
"A penny found, a penny earned,"
but it buys nothing, I have learned.
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Little Bird
Little bird up in the tree-
is that a nest I think I see?
And are there little fledglings there
that you protect with love and care?
I see you're nervous that I stare
at you so high up in the air.
Do you think that I could climb
or fly like you ‘way up there too?
Oh no - I stay upon the ground
most usually with folks around.
Tho I can climb when they don't see,
and find your nest up in the tree.
But I'll not bother you right now,
for I am sure that you would frown
at any climber that would care
to see your young away up there!
The Letter
I got a letter? Let me see.
Could it be written just to me?
For I am very small you know;
It seems that I shall never grow.
My grandma sent it, just to me.
She has some kittens I should see.
And they were just oh newly born
upon the big old family farm.
And if I get to go out there
I'll see the barn, and other fare.
And pretty ducks upon the pond
that they enjoy just swimming on.
And corn is growing there so high
it seems to touch the very sky.
And pigs and cows and hens and geese
and sheep with real, white wooly fleece.
And a horse that I can ride
if I don't have to stay inside,
And big old trees that I can climb
wound 'round with grapes right on the vine,
And Red, the faithful family dog-
I think I'll take him for a jog.
And in the attic, up above
so many things that I just love-
old shoes and clocks and rugs and chairs
and clothes I guess they used to wear.
No telling what you'll find up there!!
And in the cellar, far below
are boxes set where small seeds grow;
And all the things that grandma's canned
for winter days quite close at hand.
And cookies oh! just freshly baked-
and pies and nuts and chocolate cake!
Oh! .... I can't wait!!
Mom ..... Can I go?
I'm so excited, don't you know?
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The Kite
Oh see the kite so high up there.
It floats and flutters in the air!
Oh how it pulls upon my hand,
and twists and dives-this I can't stand!
For it was very new you see—
My father bought it just for me-
and if I lose it I would cry-
So pretty kite-keep flying high!
The Secret
I have a secret place I go
that mom or dad or no one knows.
Where I can sit and be alone,
It's sort of like my second home.
It's not so very far away
and I might take you there some day;
but now I like it for my own-
to sit and think and be alone.
It's fun to plan the things I'll do,
or folk I'll see like Jane and Blue.
Or sometimes if I'm feeling bad
I go there 'cause I'm really sad,
and no one there will bother me
in my old wild hickory tree.
They don't know that I'm around-
for you can't see it from the ground.
It's 'way up in the hickory tree-
Oh darn! - I told! - don't laugh at me!
You'll be sorry if you tell
my hiding place I love so well.
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Garden
In our big garden in the yard
there's more darn stuff than Al's old barn,
but we don't waste a single thing - -
not seeds, or cobs, or anything.
We work so hard, then take a rest —
We do our part—God does the rest.
For grandpa says it will not grow
without the wind and rain, you know.
For living things take lots of rain,
and sunshine too, it's just the thing'
that plants and trees and flowers need
to start to grow from tiny seed.
It's lots of fun to watch them sprout,
and see the tiny leaves come out.
And then they get so big and tall
It's really hard to believe it all.
Where do they come from? I declare!
They couldn't sprout from dirt and air...
I planted some myself you know
but gosh, they didn't hardly grow!
I guess if it's not done just right
your garden is a sorry sight.
For weeds and rocks and winter snow
aren't all that don't make gardens grow!
The Fire
Winter legs upon the fire
as roaring flames leap higher and higher.
It's cozy here and very warm
upon this chill, dark winter morn.
I guess it was, in days gone by
they cooked on hearths just 'bout this high,
and had a big black cooking pot
hanging from a crane, a lot.
But grandma says it was no fun
in olden days in summer sun
to bend and stoop and stir the pot,
so soup and stew'd not get too hot.
But I guess it tasted good,
for folks worked hard, as all folks should.
And they enjoyed their home-cooked meal
that beats a frozen one, I feel.
Perhaps not bad—those days gone by
we hear about—both you and I.
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Jane --
“Wave good-bye to all the folks”-
those little tots we love the most.
And she stands just waving, there-
in golden sun, with flaxen hair.
Pretty picture, pretty sight!
I'll remember it, alright.
Never will forget this day,
when we came here in early May.
The Cold
I have a little cold today
so mother says that I can't play.
I have to rest and lie a'bed
and sleep and sooth my aching head.
But it's not bad I guess to lie
abed and think of days gone by-
and all the kids that are in school
that have to sit and read and 'rule.'
I guess that none of us are free
to always do just as we please,
But have to do what others say-
and save their dreams for other days.
Mine -
I got a licerice all my own!
and you can't have none, Gerry Brown!
You gave me none of your cigar
that tasted sweet like candy are.
It looked so funny out yo' mouf-
but you wouldn't take it out
and give me just a little lick!
........... bein’ SO slick!
But then you dropped it in the mud
and Boxer licked it real good—
And then you didn't want a bite.
Oh .. .. .. Here's some .. .. .. Alright!!
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Junior
There's someone new in our house-
my little baby brother.
And it was just the other day
that he came home with mother.
Oh things are busy here right now,
We've got a lot to do,
and even daddy helps to cook
and tie my sister's shoe.
We've clothes to wash, and diapers now
hanging on the line.
I guess that all the neighbors know
he came here right on time.
He cries a lot, but he's cute too,
so cute I don't know what to do.
For I'm so really very proud
I'm not ashamed to say out loud.
I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S A BABY HERE
to start off right this brand new year,
of diapers, bottles, washing too-
But I don't mind-Would you??
Games
Remember games we used to play
upon those bright, gold summer days?
Like hide - and - seek and old hop scotch-
that all us kids enjoyed a lot.
And steal-the-bacon; kick-the-can;
marbles, too-. . . *oh man!
And I had a racing sled-
and wagon too-both painted red.
And how we fought and raced and flew
down hills and pathways that we knew
to see who'd get there very first,
to laugh and point with well-earned mirth.
It was a lot of fun, I'd say,
playing in the sun all day,
And lots more fun than watch TV,
like other children that we see.
I'd rather jump and laugh and sing
than sit and stare at that old thing!
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Girl's Wond'rin'...
I think that I shall cook a meal,
for it seems my mom don't feel
so really very good today,
so I just think I'll cook away.
And maybe I will clean the house-
don't look too hard when she's about-
or maybe tidy up a room,
or sweep the floor with this old broom.
Would I like this for my life,
If I were to be a wife?
with pots and pans and kitchen broom,
straightening up and sweeping rooms?
Well I don't know, I think I'd tire
of pots and pans-'free help for hire,'
But if I loved him very much
I might consent-just for this once.
Easy Chair
Daddy's big old easy chair-
he looks so good just sitting there-
with pipe and papers all around,
scattered o'er our weary home.
I know he's tired-he works hard-
All day at work-then mow the yard.
But now he has his well-earned rest,
in our home for which we're blessed!
A Naughty Trick!
Oh! You knocked my snowman down,
and now it's splattered all around.
You naughty boy! what kind of joke
do you call that to play on folks!
I bet if ma or pa came home
You'd sure regret you knocked it down.
Oh well, I guess there's lots of snow,
and boys will push and shove, I know.
But you could wait a little while
till it fell down with sun's own smile-
in little puddles lying there,
So no one's snowman can compare.
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