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The Cricket's Song
by
Eugene Field


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When all around from out the ground
The little flowers are peeping,
And from the hills the merry rills
With vernal songs are leaping,
I sing my song the whole day long
In woodland, hedge, and thicket--
And sing it, too, the whole night through,
For I 'm a merry cricket.

The children hear my chirrup clear
As, in the woodland straying,
They gather flow'rs through summer hours--
And then I hear them saying:
"Sing, sing away the livelong day,
Glad songster of the thicket--
With your shrill mirth you gladden earth,
You merry little cricket!"

When summer goes, and Christmas snows
Are from the north returning,
I quit my lair and hasten where
The old yule-log is burning.
And where at night the ruddy light
Of that old log is flinging
A genial joy o'er girl and boy,
There I resume my singing.

And, when they hear my chirrup clear,
The children stop their playing--
With eager feet they haste to greet
My welcome music, saying:
"The little thing has come to sing
Of woodland, hedge, and thicket--
Of summer day and lambs at play--
Oh, how we love the cricket!"


This poem is in the public domain.

 

 


Eugene Field (1850 -1895) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, raised in Amherst, Massachusetts, and spent most of his adult life in Chicago. Best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays, he explored acting and law before turning to a very successful career in journalism. Eugene lost both parents before he was 20, buried three of his eight children, and died himself when he was only 45. He nonetheless seemed to have a happy and satisfying life, publishing more than a dozen books and forever endearing himself to the world's children by penning such classic poems as "The Duel” and "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.” Eugene's home in St. Louis is preserved and open to the public.

 

 

 


Post New Comment:
paradea:
I love rhyme. This is ingenious!!!
Posted 09/20/2019 10:45 AM
KevinArnold:
Yes, these earlier poets knew their rhyme and meter, and surprise. Who would have suspected "For I'm a merry cricket." Brings the reader up short.
Posted 09/20/2019 07:53 AM
Larry Schug:
I like the surprise of the cricket showing up to sing at Christmas. My appreciation for rhyming poetry grows.
Posted 09/20/2019 06:29 AM


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