Poem by Menella Bute Smedley

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!

1. Copernicus
2. Windy and Grey Morning
3. Once
4. Granmamma and the Fairies
5. The Lay of King James I in his Captivity

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