Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CASTLES IN THE AIR, by JAMES BALLANTYNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CASTLES IN THE AIR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The bonnie, bonnie bairn, wha sits poking in the ase
Last Line: Hearts are broken, heads are turn'd, wi' castles in the air.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ballantine, James
Subject(s): Children; Mothers; Childhood


THE bonnie, bonnie bairn, wha sits poking in the ase,
Glow'ring in the fire wi' his wee round face;
Laughing at the fuffin' lowe, what sees he there?
Ha, the young dreamer's bigging castles in the air.

His wee chubby face, and his touzie curly pow,
Are laughing and nodding to the dancing lowe;
He'll brown his rosy cheeks, and singe his sunny hair,
Glow'ring at the imps wi' their castles in the air.

He sees muckle castles tow'ring to the moon,
He sees wee sogers pu'ing them a' doon;
Worlds whomling up and doon, bleezing wi' a flare --
See how he loups, as they glimmer in the air.

For a' sae sage he looks, what can the laddie ken?
He's thinking upon naething, like mony mighty men;
A wee thing maks us think, a sma' thing maks us stare --
There are mair folk than him bigging castles in the air.

Sic a night in winter may weel mak him cauld,
His chin upon his buffy hand will soon mak him auld;
His brow is brent sae braid, O pray that daddy Care
Would let the bairn alane wi' his castles in the air.

He'll glow'r at the fire, and he'll keek at the licht,
But mony sparkling stars are swallowed up by nicht;
Audler een than his are glamour'd by a glare,
Hearts are broken, heads are turn'd, wi' castles in the air.





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