Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A CHILD (ROSAMUND), by EDITH BLAND NESBIT Poet's Biography First Line: The fairies have been busy while you slept Last Line: The innermost rose of the re-flowered year. Alternate Author Name(s): Nesbit, E.; Bland, Mrs. Hubert Subject(s): Children; Fairies; Childhood; Elves | ||||||||
The fairies have been busy while you slept; They have been laughing where the sad rain wept, They have taught Beauty to the ignorant flowers, Set tasks of hope to weary wind-torn bowers, And heard the lessons learned in school-rooms cold By seedling snapdragon and marigold. At dawn, while still you slept, I grew aware How good the fairies are, how many and fair. The fairy whose delightful gown is red Across a corner of our garden sped, And, where her flying raiment fluttered past, Its roseate reflection still is cast: Red poppies by the rhododendron's side, Paeonies gorgeous in their summer pride, And red may-bushes by the old red wall Shower down their crimson petals over all. Then she whose gown is gold, and gold her hair, Swept down the golden steep straight sunbeam-stair, She lit the tulip-lamps, she lit the torch Of hollyhock beside the cottage porch. She dressed the honeysuckle in fringe of gold, She gave the king-cups fairy wealth to hold, She kissed St. John's wort till it opened wide, She set the yarrow by the river side. Then came the lady all whose robes are white: She made the pale buds blossom in delight, Set silver stars upon the jasmine's hair, And gave the stream white lily-buds to wear. She painted lilies white, and pearl-white phlox, White poppies, passion-flowers and gray-leaved stocks. Her pure kind touch redeemed the most forlorn, And even the vile petunia smiled, new-born. The dearest fairy of all -- green is her gown -- She kissed the plane-trees in the tiresome town, She smoothed the pastures and the lawn's pale sheen, She decked the boughs with hangings fresh and green, She showed each flower the one and only way Its beauty of shape and colour to display; She taught the world to be a Paradise Of changing leaf and blade, for tired eyes. Then, one and all, they came where you were laid In your strait bed, my little lovely maid; The red-robed fairy kissed your lips, your face, The white-robed made your heart her dwelling-place. Into your eyes the green robed fairy smiled; The golden fairy touched your dreams, my child, And one, not named, but mightiest, made my Dear The innermost rose of the re-flowered year. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FAERY FOREST by SARA TEASDALE THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE FAIRIES by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM THE FAIRY CHILD by JOHN ANSTER THE FORSAKEN MERMAN by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE LITTLE ELF-MAN by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS TAM O' SHANTER by ROBERT BURNS A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 19. THE FAIRY QUEEN PROSERPINA by THOMAS CAMPION A PROPER NEW BALLAD [ENTITLED THE FAIRIES' FAREWELL] by RICHARD CORBET A BALLAD OF CANTERBURY by EDITH BLAND NESBIT |
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