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Poems Every Child Should Know

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<h3>True Royalty.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"True Royalty" and "Playing Robinson Crusoe" are pleasing stanzas from "The Just So Stories" of Rudyard Kipling (1865-). </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> There was never a Queen like Balkis, From here to the wide world's end; But Balkis talked to a butterfly As you would talk to a friend. </div> <div class="stanza"> There was never a King like Solomon, Not since the world began; But Solomon talked to a butterfly As a man would talk to a man. </div> <div class="stanza"> She was Queen of Sabaea— And he was Asia's Lord— But they both of 'em talked to butterflies When they took their walks abroad. </div> </td></tr></table> Rudyard Kipling. (In "The Just So Stories.") <h3>Playing Robinson Crusoe.</h3> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> Pussy can sit by the fire and sing, Pussy can climb a tree, Or play with a silly old cork and string To 'muse herself, not me. But I like Binkie, my dog, because He knows how to behave; So, Binkie's the same as the First Friend was, And I am the Man in the Cave. </div> <div class="stanza"> Pussy will play Man-Friday till It's time to wet her paw And make her walk on the window-sill (For the footprint Crusoe saw); Then she fluffles her tail and mews, And scratches and won't attend. But Binkie will play whatever I choose, And he is my true First Friend. </div> <div class="stanza"> Pussy will rub my knees with her head, Pretending she loves me hard; But the very minute I go to my bed Pussy runs out in the yard. </div> <div class="stanza"> And there she stays till the morning light; So I know it is only pretend; But Binkie, he snores at my feet all night, And he is my Firstest Friend! </div> </td></tr></table> Rudyard Kipling. (In "The Just So Stories.") <h3>My Shadow.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"My Shadow," by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94), is one of the most popular short poems extant. I have taught it to a great many very young boys, and not one has ever tried to evade learning it. Older pupils like it equally well. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed. </div> <div class="stanza"> The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow— Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball, And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all. </div> <div class="stanza"> He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way. He stays so close beside me, he's a coward, you can see; I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me! </div> <div class="stanza"> One morning, very early, before the sun was up, I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup; But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head, Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed. </div> </td></tr></table> Robert Louis Stevenson. <h3>Little White Lily.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">This poem (George Macdonald, 1828-) finds a place in this volume because, as a child, I loved it. It completely filled my heart, and has made every member of the lily family dear to me. George Macdonald's charming book, "At the Back of the North Wind," also was my wonder and delight. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> Little White Lily Sat by a stone, Drooping and waiting Till the sun shone. Little White Lily Sunshine has fed; Little White Lily Is lifting her head. </div> <div class="stanza"> Little White Lily Said: "It is good Little White Lily's Clothing and food." Little White Lily Dressed like a bride! Shining with whiteness, And crownèd beside! </div> <div class="stanza"> Little White Lily Drooping with pain, Waiting and waiting For the wet rain. Little White Lily Holdeth her cup; Rain is fast falling And filling it up. </div> <div class="stanza"> Little White Lily Said: "Good again, When I am thirsty To have the nice rain. Now I am stronger, Now I am cool; Heat cannot burn me, My veins are so full." </div> <div class="stanza"> Little White Lily Smells very sweet; On her head sunshine, Rain at her feet. Thanks to the sunshine, Thanks to the rain, Little White Lily Is happy again. </div> </td></tr></table> George Macdonald. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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