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.
Here is the poem we will be working on memorizing for the month of August.
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.
We are going to be memorizing a new poem every month. Here is our poem for June.
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.