Brownie Year Book

This is a fun collection of poems by Palmer Cox.

JANUARY

Throughout the year the Brownie Band

For pleasure travels o’er the land:

In January, when the snow

Lies on the hills and valleys low,

And from the north the chilly breeze

Comes whistling through the naked trees,

Upon toboggans long they ride

For hours down the mountain side,

Until the broadening light of day

Compels them all to quit their play.

FEBRUARY

When ice has coated

lake and stream,

And skating is

the common theme

Of which the youthful

people speak

By night and day

from week to week;

The Brownies

are not left behind

But manage well

their sport to find.

MARCH

When March arrives

with sweeping gales

That bend the trees

and split the sails,

And people have

a lively chase

For hats that will not

keep their place.

Then to the field

the Brownies bring

Their home-made kites

and balls of string.

APRIL

When fall the drenching

April showers

To start the grass

and bud the flowers,

Each cunning Brownie

must be spry

To keep this scanty

garments dry;

For they know where

in wood or field

The friendly tree

will shelter yield.

MAY

When flowers spring

on every side,

In gardens fair,

and meadows wide,

The Brownies quickly

take the chance

That’s offered

for a merry dance.

They place the tapering

pole upright

To which they fasten

ribbons bright.

JUNE

In sunny June when skies are bright,

And woods and water do invite

The people from their tasks away

To sport themselves by night and day,

The Brownies are not slow to take

A ride upon a pleasant lake,

Or follow fast by rock and tree

A stream that hastens to the sea;

Through dangers may the band surround

Before the night has circled round.

JULY

When July has

its visits paid,

And trees afford

a grateful shade,

And stretched across

from tree to tree

The hammocks swing

above the lea,

The Brownies

are not slow to find

Where people

through the day reclined.

AUGUST

To swim and sport

in August mild

Though water may be calm or wild,

Gives pleasure

to the Brownie band

Who haste at night

to reach teh strand,

That they may plunge

into the wave

To swim and dive,

or like a stave,

To float on water,

to and fro.

SEPTEMBER

When fish in lake

and river bright

At tempting bait

are prone to bite,

And people from

the rock or boat,

Watch bobbing corks

that drifting float;

The Brownies

also take delight,

And spend the mild

September night

In landing fish

of every kind.

OCTOBER

When woods are tinged

with all the glow

October on the woods

can throw,

And game is plenty

on the tree

And every kind

of weapon free;

The Brownies

imitate the way

Mankind does creep

upon the prey.

NOVEMBER

November’s winds

are keen and cold,

As Brownies know

who roam the wold

And have no home

to which to run

When they have had

their night of fun,

But cunning hands

are never slow

To build a fire

of ruddy glow.

DECEMBER

When comes the month

that calls to mind

The day so dear

to all mankind,

The people living,

West or East,

Begin to talk

about the feast

That will be spread

for young and old,

While songs are sung

and stories told.

This book was published in the late 1800s so I believe it is ok for me to share the poems and the illustrations. If there happens to be a copyright issue, please let me know.

Summer Stars (Poem of the Month)

Here is the poem we will be working on memorizing for the month of August.

Summer Stars by Carl Sandburg

BEND low again, night of summer stars.

So near you are, sky of summer stars,

So near, a long arm man can pick off stars,

Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl,

So near you are, summer stars,

So near, strumming, strumming,

So lazy and hum-strumming.

Little Robin Redbreast

We are going to be memorizing a new poem every month. Here is our poem for June.

Robin Photo

–Little Robin Redbreast–

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree,

Up went pussy cat, and down went he!

Down came Pussy, and away Robin ran;

Says little Robin Redbreast, “Catch me if you can!”

Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall,

Pussy cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall!

Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did Pussy say?

Pussy cat said, “Mew,” and Robin flew away.

Photo from We for Animals.