Before Breakfast
I go round the garden early, when the grass is
bright with dew,
And I have to put goloshes on my feet.
I’ll tell you all I do there, right away from
people’s view,
When the world is half-awake and very
sweet.
I shake the lady hollyhocks to make the bees
fly out,
And I see how much they’ve grown since
yesterday.
I pop the fattest fuchsia buds, if gardener’s
not about,
And I blow the dandelion clocks away.
I smell the honeysuckle and the lavender as
well,
I take the rose-leaves fallen down beyond;
They’re pink and white and beautiful, just like
a fairy shell,
And I save them up for sailing on the pond.
I stand upon the mossy wall, and smell the
new mown hay,
And I feel the wind that blows the clouds
along;
I think there never, never could be such a
lovely day—
And then, I hear that horrid breakfast gong!