Josephine Preston Peabody

Market

I went to Market yesterday,
  And it is like a Fair
Of everything you'd like to see;
  But nothing live is there:
--The Pigeons, hanging up to eat;
And Rabbits, by their little feet!--
  And no one seemed to care.

And there were Fishes out in rows,
  Bright ones of every kind;
Some were pink, and silver too;
  But all of them were blind.
Yes, everything you'd like to touch.--
It would not make you happy much,
  But no one seemed to mind.

And loveliest of all, a Deer!--
  Only its eyes were blurred;
And hanging by it, very near,
  A beautiful great Bird.
So I could smooth his feathers through,
And kiss them, very softly, too:
  But Oh, he never stirred!