Child-Songs

Alfred Tennyson

I.

The City Child.

DAINTY little maiden, whither would you wander?
    Whither from this pretty home, the home where mother dwells?
‘Far and far away,’ said the dainty little maiden,
‘All among the gardens, auriculas, anemones,
    Roses and lilies and Canterbury-bells.’

Dainty little maiden, whither would you wander?
    Whither from this pretty house, this city-house of ours?
‘Far and far away,’ said the dainty little maiden,
‘All among the meadows, the clover and the clematis,
    Daisies and kingcups and honeysuckle-flowers.’

II.

Minnie and Winnie.

MINNIE and Winnie
    Slept in a shell.
Sleep, little ladies!
    And they slept well.

Pink was the shell within,
    Silver without;
Sounds of the great sea
    Wander’d about.

Sleep, little ladies!
    Wake not soon!
Echo on echo
    Dies to the moon.

Two bright stars
    Peep’d into the shell.
‘What are they dreaming of?
    Who can tell?’

Started a green linnet
    Out of the croft;
Wake, little ladies,
    The sun is aloft!

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