Five Poems

Every Child Should Know

When the Shadows Are Long

ADAPTED FROM POEMS EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW

Five Poems Every Child Should Know Page 2

Poems include here are adapted from

Poems Every Child Should Know

EDITED BY
Mary E. Burt

THE WHAT-EVERY-CHILD-
SHOULD-KNOW-LIBRARY

Published by
DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & CO., INC., for
THE PARENTS' INSTITUTE, INC.
Publishers of "The Parents' Magazine"
9 EAST 40th STREET, NEW YORK

Copyright. 1904, By Doubleday, Page & Company. All Rights Reserved.

Printed In The United States, The Country Life Press, Garden City, N.Y.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT........................................................................................................................................ 4

I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD ................................................................................................................................ 6
LOCHINVAR ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7
CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.................................................................................................................................... 9
WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE! .................................................................................................................................... 11

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THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT

Edward Lear
"The Owl and the Pussy-Cat," by Edward Lear (1812-88), is placed here because I once found that a timid
child was much strengthened and developed by learning it. It is a song that appeals to the imagination of
children, and they like to sing it. ~ Mary E. Burt, ed.

I.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat: They took some honey, and
plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the
stars above,
And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a
beautiful Pussy you are!"

II
Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing! Oh! let us be married; too
long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away, for a year
and a day,
To the land where the bong-tree grows; And there in a wood
a Piggy-wig stood,
With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a
ring at the end of his nose.

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III.
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will." So they took it
away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in
hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon, The moon,
The moon, They danced by the light of the moon.

Note:
Runcible spoon: Lear”s whimsical nonsense verse celebrates words primarily for their sound, and a specific
definition is not needed to appreciate his work. However, since the 1920s (several decades after Lear's
death), modern dictionaries have generally defined a "runcible spoon" as a fork with three broad curved
prongs and a sharpened edge, used with pickles or hors d'oeuvres, such as a pickle fork. It is occasionally used
as a synonym for "spork". However, this definition is not consistent with Lear's drawing, in which it is a ladle,
nor does it account for the other "runcible" objects in Lear's poems.

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I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD

William Wordsworth
"The Daffodil Poem,” as it is sometimes nicknamed, is a beloved poem of children and grownups. The
Mary Burt, relates: “I found the pupils learning the poem, the teacher having placed a bunch of
daffodils in a vase before them. It was a charming lesson.” ~ Mary E. Burt, ed.

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils:
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay;
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:--
A poet could not but be gay
In such a jocund company;
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought.

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

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LOCHINVAR

Sir Walter Scott

This poem by Scott (1771-1832) is popular with boys who love to win
anything desirable by heroic effort. Until recently this poem was
memorized by most British and American boys for recitation.
From his earliest childhood, Scott was an insatiable reader; and had
almost perfect recall of what he read and observed--one of the benefits
of reading high quality literature. ~Sheila Carroll

Oh, young Lochinvar is come out of the west.

Through all the wide Border his steed was the best,
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none;
He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar.

He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone,

He swam the Eske River where ford there was none;
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate
The bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.

So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall,

Among bridesmen and kinsmen and brothers and all:
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word),
"Oh, come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?"

"I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied;--

Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide--
And now am I come, with this lost love of mine,
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar."

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The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it up;

He quaffed of the wine, and he threw down the cup.
She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh,
With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand ere her mother could bar,--
"Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar.

So stately his form, and so lovely her face,

That never a hall such a galliard did grace;
While her mother did fret, and her father did fume,
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume,
And the bridemaidens whispered, "'Twere better by far
To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."

One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear,

When they reached the hall door, and the charger stood near;
So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,
So light to the saddle before her he sprung!
"She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;
They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar.

There was mounting 'mong Græmes of the Netherby clan;

Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran:
There was racing and chasing, on Cannobie Lee,
But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.
So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,
Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?

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Five Poems Every Child Should Know Page 9

CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

Alfred Lloyd Tennyson

"The Charge of the Light Brigade" shows

obedience under stern necessity. Obedience
is the salvation of any army. Another well-
known poet, John Burroughs, says: "I never
hear that poem but what it thrills me
through and through."
“The Charge of the Light Brigade was a
charge of British cavalry led by Lord
Cardigan against Russian forces during the
Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in
the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade
attempted a much more difficult objective than intended by the overall commander Lord Raglan.
Blame for the miscommunication has remained controversial, as the original order itself was vague.
The charge produced no decisive gains and resulted in very high casualties, and is best remembered as
the subject of the poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, whose lines
emphasize the valor of the cavalry in carrying out their orders, even "tho' the soldier knew / Someone
had blunder'd".” ~Wikipedia

Note: Read this poem somewhat loudly and with plenty of swing and energy in your voice! You may
also have your older children read it aloud for the rest of the children, no matter their age. SC
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"

Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why.
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

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Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabers bare,

Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sab'ring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the saber-stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volleyed and thundered:
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of death
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them--
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?

Oh, the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade--
Noble six hundred!

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Five Poems Every Child Should Know Page 11

WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE!

George Pope Morris

"Woodman, Spare That Tree," by George Pope Morris, 1802-64, is included in this collection because I
have loved it all my life, and I never knew anyone who could or would offer a criticism upon it. Its value
lies in its recognition of childhood's pleasures. ~ Mary E. Burt, ed.

Woodman, spare that tree!

Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now.
'Twas my forefather's hand
That placed it near his cot;
There, woodman let it stand,
Thy ax shall harm it not.

That old familiar tree,

Whose glory and renown
Are spread o'er land and sea--
And wouldst thou hew it down?
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!
Cut not its earth-bound ties;
Oh, spare that agèd oak
Now towering to the skies!

When but an idle boy,

I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy
Here, too, my sisters played.
My mother kissed me here;
My father pressed my hand--
Forgive this foolish tear,
But let that old oak stand.

My heart-strings round thee cling,

Close as thy bark, old friend!
Here shall the wild-bird sing,
And still thy branches bend.
Old tree! the storm still brave!
And, woodman, leave the spot;
While I've a hand to save,
Thy ax shall harm it not.

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