This was my favorite book as a kid. It's a children's poetry book. I've read it so many times I have most of the poems memorized.(kay, well..some) I'd like to share some of the poems out of this book with you!
Note: all illustrations copyright-Robert Quakenbush~1967/ all poems copyright Lilian Moore~1967----Antheneum 1967 New York
WAKING
My secret way of waking
is like a place
to hide.
I'm very still,
my eyes are shut.
They all think I am sleeping
but
I'm wide awake inside
They all think I am sleeping
but
I'm wiggling my toes.
I feel sun-fingers
on my cheek.
I hear voices whisper-speak.
I squeeze my eyes
to keep them shut
so they will think I'm sleeping
BUT
I'm really wide awake inside
-and no one knows!
OUTSIDE
I
am inside
looking outside
at the pelting rain-
where the outside world
is melting
upon my
window
pane.
RAIN RIVERS
It's raining
Street streams and rain rivers
are flowing,
and little twig boats
are towing
leaf barges.
WIND SONG
When the wind blows
The quiet things speak.
Some whisper, some clang,
Some creak.
Grasses swish.
Treetops sigh.
Flags slap
and snap at the sky.
Wires on poles
whistle and hum.
Ashcans roll.
Windows drum.
When the wind goes-
suddenly
then,
the quiet things
are quiet again.
UNTIL I SAW THE SEA
Until I saw the sea
I did not know
that wind
could wrinkle water so.
I
never knew
that sun
could splinter a whole sea of blue.
Nor
did I know
before,
a sea breathes in and out
upon a shore.
HEY BUG!
Hey, bug, stay!
Don’t run away.
I know a game that we can play.
I’ll hold my
finger very still
and you can climb a finger-hill.
No, no.
Don’t go.
Here’s a
wall--a tower, too,
a tiny bug town just for you.
I’ve a cookie. You have
some.
Take this oatmeal cookie crumb.
Hey, bug, stay!
Hey, bug!
Hey!
WALKING
I stop--
it stops too.
It goes when I do.
Over my shoulder I can see
The moon is taking a walk with me.
IF YOU CATCH A FIREFLY
If you catch a firefly
and keep it in a jar
You may find that
you have lost
A tiny star.
If you let it go then,
back into the night,
You may see it
once again
Star bright.
dreaming of home
