Wishing

Wishing

Ring-ting! I wish I were a Primrose,A bright yellow Primrose blowing in the Spring!The stooping boughs above me,The wandering bee to love me,The fern and moss to creep across,And the Elm-tree for our King!Nay—stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree,A great lofty Elm-tree, with green leaves gay!The winds would set them dancing,The sun and moonshine glance in,The birds would house among the boughs,And sweetly sing!O—no! I wish I were a Robin,A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go;Through forest, field, or garden,And ask no leave or pardon,Till Winter comes with icy thumbsTo ruffle up our wing!Well—tell! Where should I fly to,Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell?Before a day was over,Home comes the rover,For Mother’s kiss,—sweeter thisThan any other thing!

Ring-ting! I wish I were a Primrose,A bright yellow Primrose blowing in the Spring!The stooping boughs above me,The wandering bee to love me,The fern and moss to creep across,And the Elm-tree for our King!Nay—stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree,A great lofty Elm-tree, with green leaves gay!The winds would set them dancing,The sun and moonshine glance in,The birds would house among the boughs,And sweetly sing!O—no! I wish I were a Robin,A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go;Through forest, field, or garden,And ask no leave or pardon,Till Winter comes with icy thumbsTo ruffle up our wing!Well—tell! Where should I fly to,Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell?Before a day was over,Home comes the rover,For Mother’s kiss,—sweeter thisThan any other thing!

Ring-ting! I wish I were a Primrose,A bright yellow Primrose blowing in the Spring!The stooping boughs above me,The wandering bee to love me,The fern and moss to creep across,And the Elm-tree for our King!

Ring-ting! I wish I were a Primrose,

A bright yellow Primrose blowing in the Spring!

The stooping boughs above me,

The wandering bee to love me,

The fern and moss to creep across,

And the Elm-tree for our King!

Nay—stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree,A great lofty Elm-tree, with green leaves gay!The winds would set them dancing,The sun and moonshine glance in,The birds would house among the boughs,And sweetly sing!

Nay—stay! I wish I were an Elm-tree,

A great lofty Elm-tree, with green leaves gay!

The winds would set them dancing,

The sun and moonshine glance in,

The birds would house among the boughs,

And sweetly sing!

O—no! I wish I were a Robin,A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go;Through forest, field, or garden,And ask no leave or pardon,Till Winter comes with icy thumbsTo ruffle up our wing!

O—no! I wish I were a Robin,

A Robin or a little Wren, everywhere to go;

Through forest, field, or garden,

And ask no leave or pardon,

Till Winter comes with icy thumbs

To ruffle up our wing!

Well—tell! Where should I fly to,Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell?Before a day was over,Home comes the rover,For Mother’s kiss,—sweeter thisThan any other thing!

Well—tell! Where should I fly to,

Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell?

Before a day was over,

Home comes the rover,

For Mother’s kiss,—sweeter this

Than any other thing!

William Allingham.


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