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466 THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF |
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JAMES KENNEY (i780-1849)
WHY ARE YOU WANDERING HERE ?
W
HY are you wandering here, I pray? An old man asked a maid one day. Looking for poppies, so bright and red, Father, said she, I'm hither led. Fie ! fie ! she heard him cry, Poppies, 'tis known to all who rove, Grow in the field, and not in the grove — Grow in the field and not in the grove.
Tell me again, the old man said, Why are you loitering here, fair maid? The nightingale's song, so sweet and clear, Father, said she, I come to hear. Fie ! fie ! she heard him cry, Nightingales all, so people say, Warble by night, and not by day — Warble by night and not by day.
The sage looked grave, the maiden shy, When Lubin jumped o'er the stile hard by; The sage looked graver, the maid more glum, Lubin he twiddled his finger and thumb. Fie ! fie ! the old man's cry ; Poppies like these, I own, are rare, And of such nightingales' songs beware — And of such nightingales' songs beware. |
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