LITTLE TROTTY WAGTAIL

LITTLE trotty wagtail, he went in the rain,

And twittering, tottering sideways he ne'er got straight again.

He stooped to get a worm, and looked up to get a fly, And then he flew away ere his feathers they were dry.

Little trotty wagtail, he waddled in the mud,

And left his little footmarks, trample where he would. He waddled in the water-pudge, and waggle went his

tail,

And chirrupt up his wings to dry upon the garden rail.

Little trotty wagtail, you nimble all about,

And in the dimpling water-pudge you waddle in and

out;

Your home is nigh at hand, and in the warm pig-stye, So, little Master Wagtail, I'll bid you a good-bye. JOHN CLARE

IN THE POPPY FIELD

MAD Patsy said, he said to me,
That every morning he could see
An angel walking on the sky;
Across the sunny skies of morn
He threw great handfuls far and nigh
Of poppy seed among the corn;

Her conscious tail her joy declared:
The fair round face, the snowy beard,
The velvet of her paws,

Her coat that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,
She saw; and purr'd applause.

Still had she gazed, but 'midst the tide
Two angel forms were seen to glide,
The Genii of the stream:
Their scaly armour's Tyrian hue
Through richest purple to the view
Betray'd a golden gleam.

The hapless Nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first, and then a claw

With many an ardent wish

She stretch'd, in vain, to reach the prize-
What female heart can gold despise?
What Cat's averse to Fish?

Presumptuous maid! with looks intent
Again she stretch'd, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between —
Malignant Fate sat by and smiled-
The slippery verge her feet beguiled; ·
She tumbled headlong in!

Eight times emerging from the flood
She mew'd to every watery God