Nursery Idyls

1 
A little sigh, a little shiver—
  And that means liver.
A little liver when June is nigh, 
  And then we die.
2 
Daffodils in English fields 
  And breezes in the clover;
But here's a sun would strike you dead 
  Seven times over!
3 
Cook's tourist comes and goes— 
  He is but a rover,
While I watch the burning sun 
  Turn over and over.
4 
And I dream of daffodils 
  And the breezy clover; 
Turning on my little bed,
  Over and over.
5 
In England elm-leaves fall
  When winter winds blow keen, 
But the Indian pipâl
  Is always gay and green.
6 
Ne'er in rain or sunshine 
  Leaf or blossom dies—
But I'd give the world for an English elm 
  Under English skies! 
7 
Here's a mongoose
  Dead in the sluice
  Of the bath-room drain.
  How was he slain?
  He must have lain
  Days, it is plain . . .
  Stopper your nose,
  Throw him out to the crows.
8 
Tara Chand is the gardener's mate,
  And labours late and early;
But Dunni is my pony's sais,
  And steals the golden barley.
9 
Golden barley, roses red,
  Rejoice in your morning beauty!
For I have broken Tara's head,
  And given Dunni chuti.

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