Whether it's a cot mobile, a musical bear, or musical toy giraffe, young children are lulled to sleep with tunes that have done so for hundreds of years. One such song is, Twinkle, twinkle, little star, the words of this song were written by English poet and author, Jane Taylor and I am today featuring one of her poems today in my classic poetry post.
The words of the featured poem truly evoke a picture in the mind's eye and I believe that you can nearly hear the noise of the playful children too.
THE VILLAGE GREEN
ON the cheerful village green
Skirted round with houses small
All the boys and girls are seen
Playing there with hoop and ball
Now they frolic hand in hand
Making many a merry chain
Then they form a warlike band
Marching over the level plain
Now ascends the worsted ball
High it rises in the air
Or, against the cottage wall
Up and down it bounces there
Then the hoop, with even pace
Runs before the merry throngs
Joy is seen in every face
Joy is heard in cheerful songs
Rich array, and mansions proud
Gilded toys, and costly fare
Would not make the little crowd
Half so happy as they are
Then, contented with my state
Where true pleasure may be seen
Let me envy not the great
On a cheerful village green
Jane Taylor (1783-1824)
Skirted round with houses small
All the boys and girls are seen
Playing there with hoop and ball
Making many a merry chain
Then they form a warlike band
Marching over the level plain
High it rises in the air
Or, against the cottage wall
Up and down it bounces there
Runs before the merry throngs
Joy is seen in every face
Joy is heard in cheerful songs
Gilded toys, and costly fare
Would not make the little crowd
Half so happy as they are
Where true pleasure may be seen
Let me envy not the great
On a cheerful village green