!
I have no time to play with Spring!

THE CORN

The corn's like soldiers in a row.
We'll stop and cheer them. Let's!
The tassels are their waving flags;
The leaves their bayonets.

They march to meet King Frost, their foe,
The fight will soon begin.
King Frost will conquer them, I know--
But oh, if they _could_ win!

IF A STAR--

If a star were to say
"I will stay
And watch Dawn bring the day,"--
If a star were so bold
Would the Moon-Mother old
Let it stay in the sky?
--Try, star, try!

DRYAD

Dryad, hidden in this tree!
Break your bonds and talk to me!

No one's watching, only peep
From your cave! The town's asleep!

No one knows I stand here, so
Come! for they will never know!

Tell me what you think of here
When the moon is sharp and clear,

When the clouds are over you,
When the ground is wet with dew.

Dryad, are you happy, say!
Do you like to live this way?

I will keep your secrets well,
I will never, never tell!

Dryad, hidden in our tree,
Come, oh, come and talk to me!

THE DUEL

Once a blotter met a blot
In a still, secluded spot.
Here's the blotter, brave to see;
But the blot--Oh, where is he?

THE LITTLEST CLOUD

O littlest cloud in all the blue,
Don't go so fast, for, see,
I'm just about the size of you!
Come down and play with me!

But oh, if that's the only way--
To come in raindrops, why,
I'll stay here by myself and play!
I wouldn't have you cry!

PRINCES

Cinderella sitting in her dingy chimney corner,
Delving in the ashes, with the smoke upon her eyes,
With pots and kettles waiting, all her kinfolk by to scorn her,
Longed perhaps to meet a prince, handsome, young, and wise.

Maybe Sleeping Beauty on her couch within the castle,
While her golden hair crept down to touch her silent feet,
Dreamed about a rider with a scarlet cap and tassel
Who would hack away the hedge and cry, "Awaken, sweet!"

While I'm washing dishes, or scraping out the skillet,
Or when I am sprinkling, or folding up the clothes,
Sometimes I too dream; it seems foolish-like to tell it...
But their princes came at last and ... ah, who knows?

[Illustration: WHILE I'M WASHING DISHES, OR SCRAPING OUT THE SKILLET]

OUR SHARE

Babies of Alaska, babies of Japan,
Babies born to beads, or sil