UP AND DOWN

THE HORSEMAN

I heard a horseman
     Ride over the hill;
The moon shone clear,
The night was still;
His helm was silver,
     And pale was he;
And the horse he rode
     Was of ivory.

SOME ONE

Some one came knocking
     At my wee, small door;
Some one came knocking,
     I'm sure - sure - sure;
I listened, I opened,
     I looked to left and right,
But naught there was a-stirring
     In the still dark night;
Only the busy beetle
     Tap-tapping in the wall,
Only from the forest
     The screech-owl's call,
Only the cricket whistling
     While the dewdrops fall,
So I know not who came knocking,
At all, at all, at all.

BREAD AND CHERRIES

'Cherries, ripe cherries!'
     The old woman cried,
In her snowy white apron,
     And basket beside;
And the little boys came,
     Eyes shining, cheeks red,
To buy a bag of cherries,
To eat with their bread.

MRS. EARTH

Mrs. Earth makes silver black,
Mrs. Earth makes iron red
But Mrs. Earth can not stain gold,
Nor ruby red.
Mrs. earth the slenderest bone
Whitens in her bosom cold,
But Mrs. Earth can change my dreams
No more than ruby or gold.
Mrs. Earth and Mr. Sun
Can tan my skin, and tire my toes,
But all that I'm thinking of, ever shall think,
Why, either knows.