<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To a Baby Found Paddling Near the </h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">HAIL! O Baby of the May </p><p class="line">In the bubbling river-bed, </p><p class="line">Playing where the cannon play, </p><p class="line">With the shrapnel overhead!</p><p class="line">Sparkling in and flashing out </p><p class="line">Through the eddies and the shallows, </p><p class="line">With your feet among the trout, </p><p class="line">And your head among the swallows; </p><p class="line">While the wag-tails on the daisies </p><p class="line">Lead you in the minuet, </p><p class="line">Twinkling through the flow'ry mazes, </p><p class="line">Baby, do you quite forget </p><p class="line">That, with shrapnel overhead, </p><p class="line">Other babes are put to bed ?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Baby, may the buttercup, </p><p class="line">When you tumble, pick you up; </p><p class="line">If you fall beside the willow,</p><p class="line">Lilies rise to be your pillow!</p><p class="line">In the winter should you go </p><p class="line">Straying far without a rest,</p><p class="line">Down beneath the drifting snow </p><p class="line">You shall be the mouse's guest;</p><p class="line">May the bull-frog be your Knight, </p><p class="line">And the tit your templar true!</p><p class="line">May the fairy guide you right </p><p class="line">Wandering through a misty land, </p><p class="line">At the crossings of the dew, </p><p class="line">With the rainbow in her hand! </p><p class="line">Should you fall from branches high, </p><p class="line">And go tumbling down the sky, </p><p class="line">May the heron in the air </p><p class="line">Take you floating on his wings, </p><p class="line">And the cloudlets be your stair, </p><p class="line">Over palaces of Kings </p><p class="line">Riding high above the wold, </p><p class="line">Larks your sentinels shall be, </p><p class="line">Challenging with tongues of gold </p><p class="line">Those who try to cage the free !</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">So, philosopher of May, </p><p class="line">With my blessing go your way! </p><p class="line">If you win such friends as these </p><p class="line">You need never have a care, </p><p class="line">Cannon you may safely tease,</p><p class="line">And may juggle, at your ease, </p><p class="line">With the whizzbang in the air </p><p class="line">Though the world be full of sadness, </p><p class="line">You may still have fun and gladness, </p><p class="line">And be happy for a day, </p><p class="line">Playing where the cannon play.</p></div></body></html> · Great War