Menella Bute Smedley (Менелла Бьют Смедли)
Song (O Moon)
O Moon—said the children—O Moon, that shineth fair, Why do you stay so far away, so high above us there? O Moon, you must be very cold from shining on the sea; If you would come and play with us, how happy we should be! O children—said the Moon—I shine above your head, That I may light the ships at night when the sun has gone to bed; That I may show the beggar-boy his way across the moor, And bring the busy farmer home to his own cottage-door. O Moon—said the children—may we shine in your place? They say that I have sunny hair, and I a sparkling face. To light the ships and beggar-boys we greatly do desire; And you might come and warm yourself before the nurs'ry fire! O children—said the Moon—we have each allotted parts: 'Tis yours to shine by love divine on happy human hearts; 'Tis mine to make the pathway bright of wanderers that roam; 'Tis yours to scatter endless light on those that stay at home!
Menella Bute Smedley’s other poems:
