ELFIN FACES
Roundme gather Rosycheeks,Clean and fresh as peaches,Smiling daughters of the Greeks,Golden-tongued with speeches.“Papa, tell your little girlsAll about the fairies!”Bless my soul! they all had curlsAnd Cupid-lips like cherries.Yes, indeed, and starry eyesAnd merry little dimplesSomething like a sly surpriseHid in cunning wimples.Yes, and twinkling baby-feetDancing midst the flowers,Gathering the honey sweetThrough the morning hours.But at twilight is the timeEach becomes a brownie,Murmuring a sleepy rhyme,Growing soft and downyTill—say, I declare there springsUp from either shoulderFluffy little angel-wingsThat at first enfold her,—Then I have to rub my eyesAll alert and scarey,For right out the window fliesEvery single fairyAnd I’m left there all alone,Peering in the corners.
Roundme gather Rosycheeks,Clean and fresh as peaches,Smiling daughters of the Greeks,Golden-tongued with speeches.“Papa, tell your little girlsAll about the fairies!”Bless my soul! they all had curlsAnd Cupid-lips like cherries.Yes, indeed, and starry eyesAnd merry little dimplesSomething like a sly surpriseHid in cunning wimples.Yes, and twinkling baby-feetDancing midst the flowers,Gathering the honey sweetThrough the morning hours.But at twilight is the timeEach becomes a brownie,Murmuring a sleepy rhyme,Growing soft and downyTill—say, I declare there springsUp from either shoulderFluffy little angel-wingsThat at first enfold her,—Then I have to rub my eyesAll alert and scarey,For right out the window fliesEvery single fairyAnd I’m left there all alone,Peering in the corners.
Roundme gather Rosycheeks,Clean and fresh as peaches,Smiling daughters of the Greeks,Golden-tongued with speeches.
Roundme gather Rosycheeks,
Clean and fresh as peaches,
Smiling daughters of the Greeks,
Golden-tongued with speeches.
“Papa, tell your little girlsAll about the fairies!”Bless my soul! they all had curlsAnd Cupid-lips like cherries.
“Papa, tell your little girls
All about the fairies!”
Bless my soul! they all had curls
And Cupid-lips like cherries.
Yes, indeed, and starry eyesAnd merry little dimplesSomething like a sly surpriseHid in cunning wimples.
Yes, indeed, and starry eyes
And merry little dimples
Something like a sly surprise
Hid in cunning wimples.
Yes, and twinkling baby-feetDancing midst the flowers,Gathering the honey sweetThrough the morning hours.
Yes, and twinkling baby-feet
Dancing midst the flowers,
Gathering the honey sweet
Through the morning hours.
But at twilight is the timeEach becomes a brownie,Murmuring a sleepy rhyme,Growing soft and downy
But at twilight is the time
Each becomes a brownie,
Murmuring a sleepy rhyme,
Growing soft and downy
Till—say, I declare there springsUp from either shoulderFluffy little angel-wingsThat at first enfold her,—
Till—say, I declare there springs
Up from either shoulder
Fluffy little angel-wings
That at first enfold her,—
Then I have to rub my eyesAll alert and scarey,For right out the window fliesEvery single fairy
Then I have to rub my eyes
All alert and scarey,
For right out the window flies
Every single fairy
And I’m left there all alone,Peering in the corners.
And I’m left there all alone,
Peering in the corners.
Little elfin-faces goneLeave behind them mourners.
Little elfin-faces goneLeave behind them mourners.
Little elfin-faces goneLeave behind them mourners.
Little elfin-faces gone
Leave behind them mourners.