Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HIDE AND SEEK, by HENRY VAN DYKE Poet's Biography First Line: All the trees are sleeping, all the winds are still, Last Line: "coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!" Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus Subject(s): Games; Life; Recreation; Pastimes; Amusements | ||||||||
I ALL the trees are sleeping, all the winds are still, All the fleecy flocks of cloud, gone beyond the hill; Through the noon-day silence, down the woods of June, Hark, a little hunter's voice, running with a tune. "Hide and seek! "When I speak, "You must answer me: "Call again, "Merry men, "Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!" Now I hear his footsteps rustling in the grass: Hidden in my leafy nook, shall I let him pass? Just a low, soft whistle, -- quick the hunter turns, Leaps upon me laughing loud, rolls me in the ferns. "Hold him fast, "Caught at last! "Now you're it, you see. "Hide your eye, "Till I cry, "Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!" II Long ago he left me, long and long ago; Now I wander thro' the world, seeking high and low. Hidden safe and happy, in some pleasant place, -- If I could but hear his voice, soon I'd see his face! Far away, Many a day, Where can Barney be? Answer, dear, Don't you hear? Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee! Birds that every spring-time sung him full of joy, Flowers he loved to pick for me, mind me of my boy. Somewhere he is waiting till my steps come nigh; Love may hide itself awhile, but love can never die. Heart, be glad, The little lad Will call again to thee: "Father dear, "Heaven is here, "Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLOODY SIRE by ROBINSON JEFFERS GAME AFTER SUPPER by MARGARET ATWOOD DANGEROUS GAMES by CAROLYN KIZER THE GOOD AUTHOR by CAROLYN KIZER BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK by AMY LOWELL THE LOST CHILDREN by GREGORY ORR SNAKE EYES by MINNIE BRUCE PRATT LITTLE BOATIE'; A SLUMBER SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN'S CHILD by HENRY VAN DYKE |
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