The Fly
How large unto the tiny fly
Must little things appear! -
A rosebud like a feather bed,
Its prickle like a spear;
A dewdrop like a looking-glass,
A hair like golden wire;
The smallest grain of mustard-seed
As fierce as coals of fire;
A loaf of bread, a lofty hill;
A wasp, a cruel leopard;
And specks of salt as bright to see
As lambkins to a shepherd.
by Walter de la Mare
Walter John de la Mare was born on 25 April 1873 in Charlton, Kent, England. He became a poet, a short story writer, and a novelist. Walter John de la Mare passed on at 83 years of age on 22 June 1956 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England.
How large unto the tiny fly
Must little things appear! -
A rosebud like a feather bed,
Its prickle like a spear;
A dewdrop like a looking-glass,
A hair like golden wire;
The smallest grain of mustard-seed
As fierce as coals of fire;
A loaf of bread, a lofty hill;
A wasp, a cruel leopard;
And specks of salt as bright to see
As lambkins to a shepherd.
by Walter de la Mare
Walter John de la Mare was born on 25 April 1873 in Charlton, Kent, England. He became a poet, a short story writer, and a novelist. Walter John de la Mare passed on at 83 years of age on 22 June 1956 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England.
Caterpillar Garden
Over in the garden
Underneath a tree,
I saw some fuzzy caterpillars,
One, two, three.
Over in the garden,
Underneath the moon,
Each caterpillar spun herself
A wonderful cocoon.
Over in the garden,
Right before my eyes,
Those caterpillars all turned into
Lovely butterflies!
by Helen H. Moore
Over in the garden
Underneath a tree,
I saw some fuzzy caterpillars,
One, two, three.
Over in the garden,
Underneath the moon,
Each caterpillar spun herself
A wonderful cocoon.
Over in the garden,
Right before my eyes,
Those caterpillars all turned into
Lovely butterflies!
by Helen H. Moore
Lesson of the Bumblebee
According to the theory of aerodynamics, and as may be readily demonstrated through wind tunnel experiments, the bumblebee is unable to fly. This is because the weight, size, and shape of its body, in relation to its total wingspan, make flying impossible. But the bumblebee, being ignorant of these scientific truths, goes ahead and flies anyway - and, in addition, makes a little honey every day.
by Author Unknown
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“My mother gave me a bumblebee pin when I started work. She said, ‘Aerodynamically, bees shouldn’t be able to fly. But they do. Remember that.’” -Jill E. Barad
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What lesson may be learned from the bumblebee?
According to the theory of aerodynamics, and as may be readily demonstrated through wind tunnel experiments, the bumblebee is unable to fly. This is because the weight, size, and shape of its body, in relation to its total wingspan, make flying impossible. But the bumblebee, being ignorant of these scientific truths, goes ahead and flies anyway - and, in addition, makes a little honey every day.
by Author Unknown
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“My mother gave me a bumblebee pin when I started work. She said, ‘Aerodynamically, bees shouldn’t be able to fly. But they do. Remember that.’” -Jill E. Barad
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What lesson may be learned from the bumblebee?
The Clocking-Hen
“Will you take a walk with me,
My little wife, today?
There’s barley in the barley-field,
And hay-seed in the hay.”
“Thank you,” said the Clocking-hen*;
“I’ve something else to do:
I’m busy sitting on my eggs,
I cannot walk with you.”
“Clock, clock, clock, clock,”
Said the Clocking-hen:
“My little chicks will soon be hatched,
I’ll think about it then.”
The Clocking-hen sat on her nest,
She made it in the hay;
And warm and snug beneath her breast
A dozen white eggs lay.
Crack, crack, went all the eggs,
Out dropt the chickens small!
“Clock,” said the Clocking-hen,
“Now I have you all.”
“Come along, my little chicks,
I’ll take a walk with you.”
“Hallo!” said the barn-door Cock,
“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
by Aunt Effie: as published in Mary Wilder Tileston, editor: “Sugar and Spice and All That’s Nice: A Book of Nursery Rhymes and Verses” (1913), page 70
* A clocking or broody hen is a chicken that sits on her eggs all day for about three weeks, until the eggs are hatched into chicks, or baby chickens. Clocking is the sound made by a broody hen, being a loud clucking sound and a warning to stay away from the nest, the hen, and her eggs.
Jane Euphemia Saxby, also known by the pseudonym Aunt Effie, was born as Jane Euphemia Browne on 27 January 1811 in Bridekirk, Cumberland, England. She was married to Stephen Henry Saxby in 1862. She became a hymn writer and a poet. Her published works include, “The Dove on the Cross” (1849), “Aunt Effie’s Rhymes for Little Children” (1852), “The Voice of the Bird” (1875), and “Aunt Effie’s Gift to the Nursery” (1876). Jane Euphemia Saxby passed on at 87 years of age on 25 March 1898 in Bedminster, Somerset, England.
“Will you take a walk with me,
My little wife, today?
There’s barley in the barley-field,
And hay-seed in the hay.”
“Thank you,” said the Clocking-hen*;
“I’ve something else to do:
I’m busy sitting on my eggs,
I cannot walk with you.”
“Clock, clock, clock, clock,”
Said the Clocking-hen:
“My little chicks will soon be hatched,
I’ll think about it then.”
The Clocking-hen sat on her nest,
She made it in the hay;
And warm and snug beneath her breast
A dozen white eggs lay.
Crack, crack, went all the eggs,
Out dropt the chickens small!
“Clock,” said the Clocking-hen,
“Now I have you all.”
“Come along, my little chicks,
I’ll take a walk with you.”
“Hallo!” said the barn-door Cock,
“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
by Aunt Effie: as published in Mary Wilder Tileston, editor: “Sugar and Spice and All That’s Nice: A Book of Nursery Rhymes and Verses” (1913), page 70
* A clocking or broody hen is a chicken that sits on her eggs all day for about three weeks, until the eggs are hatched into chicks, or baby chickens. Clocking is the sound made by a broody hen, being a loud clucking sound and a warning to stay away from the nest, the hen, and her eggs.
Jane Euphemia Saxby, also known by the pseudonym Aunt Effie, was born as Jane Euphemia Browne on 27 January 1811 in Bridekirk, Cumberland, England. She was married to Stephen Henry Saxby in 1862. She became a hymn writer and a poet. Her published works include, “The Dove on the Cross” (1849), “Aunt Effie’s Rhymes for Little Children” (1852), “The Voice of the Bird” (1875), and “Aunt Effie’s Gift to the Nursery” (1876). Jane Euphemia Saxby passed on at 87 years of age on 25 March 1898 in Bedminster, Somerset, England.
Chanticleer
Of all the birds from East to West
That tuneful are and dear,
I love that farmyard bird the best,
They call him Chanticleer.
Gold plume and copper plume,
Comb of scarlet gay;
’Tis he that scatters night and gloom,
And whistles back the day!
He is the sun’s brave herald
That, ringing his blithe horn,
Calls round a world dew-pearled
The heavenly airs of morn.
O clear gold, shrill and bold!
He calls through creeping mist
The mountains from the night and cold
To rose and amethyst.
He sets the birds to singing,
And calls the flowers to rise;
The morning cometh, bringing
Sweet sleep to heavy eyes.
Gold plume and silver plume,
Comb of coral gay;
’Tis he packs off the night and gloom,
And summons home the day!
Black fear he sends it flying,
Black care he drives afar;
And creeping shadows sighing
Before the morning star.
The birds of all the forest
Have dear and pleasant cheer,
But yet I hold the rarest
The farmyard Chanticleer.
Red cock or black cock,
Gold cock or white,
The flower of all the feathered flock,
He whistles back the light!
by Katharine Tynan Hinkson
Katharine Tynan Hinkson, who also wrote under the name Katharine Tynan, was born on 23 January 1859 in Clondalkin, County Dublin, Ireland. She was married to Henry Albert Hinkson (1865 - 1919) in 1898. She became a novelist and a poet. Katharine Tynan passed on at 72 years of age on 2 April 1931 in Wimbledon, London, England.
Of all the birds from East to West
That tuneful are and dear,
I love that farmyard bird the best,
They call him Chanticleer.
Gold plume and copper plume,
Comb of scarlet gay;
’Tis he that scatters night and gloom,
And whistles back the day!
He is the sun’s brave herald
That, ringing his blithe horn,
Calls round a world dew-pearled
The heavenly airs of morn.
O clear gold, shrill and bold!
He calls through creeping mist
The mountains from the night and cold
To rose and amethyst.
He sets the birds to singing,
And calls the flowers to rise;
The morning cometh, bringing
Sweet sleep to heavy eyes.
Gold plume and silver plume,
Comb of coral gay;
’Tis he packs off the night and gloom,
And summons home the day!
Black fear he sends it flying,
Black care he drives afar;
And creeping shadows sighing
Before the morning star.
The birds of all the forest
Have dear and pleasant cheer,
But yet I hold the rarest
The farmyard Chanticleer.
Red cock or black cock,
Gold cock or white,
The flower of all the feathered flock,
He whistles back the light!
by Katharine Tynan Hinkson
Katharine Tynan Hinkson, who also wrote under the name Katharine Tynan, was born on 23 January 1859 in Clondalkin, County Dublin, Ireland. She was married to Henry Albert Hinkson (1865 - 1919) in 1898. She became a novelist and a poet. Katharine Tynan passed on at 72 years of age on 2 April 1931 in Wimbledon, London, England.
Feline Fysics
Law of Cat Inertia - A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse.
Law of Cat Motion - A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction.
Law of Cat Magnetism - All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric.
Law of Cat Thermodynamics - Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat.
Law of Cat Stretching - A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken.
Law of Cat Sleeping - All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved, and as comfortable as possible for the cat.
Law of Refrigerator Observation - If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat.
Law of Electric Blanket Attraction - Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light.
Law of Random Comfort Seeking - A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room.
Law of Bag/Box Occupancy - All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond.
Law of Cat Embarrassment - A cat’s irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter.
Law of Cat Disinterest - A cat’s interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him.
Law of Cat Composition - A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn’t Matter.
Law of Cat Elongation - A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it.
Law of Cat Obstruction - A cat must lay on the floor in such a position to obstruct the maximum amount of human foot traffic.
Law of Cat Acceleration - A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop.
Law of Dinner Table Attendance - Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served.
Law of Rug Configuration - No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long.
Law of Obedience Resistance - A cat’s resistance varies in proportion to a human’s desire for her to do something.
First Law of Energy Conservation - Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible.
Second Law of Energy Conservation - Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.
Law of Milk Consumption - A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can.
Law of Furniture Replacement - A cat’s desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture.
Law of Cat Landing - A cat will always land in the softest place possible; often the mid-section of an unsuspecting human.
Law of Fluid Displacement - A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed.
by Author Unknown
Law of Cat Inertia - A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse.
Law of Cat Motion - A cat will move in a straight line, unless there is a really good reason to change direction.
Law of Cat Magnetism - All blue blazers and black sweaters attract cat hair in direct proportion to the darkness of the fabric.
Law of Cat Thermodynamics - Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat.
Law of Cat Stretching - A cat will stretch to a distance proportional to the length of the nap just taken.
Law of Cat Sleeping - All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved, and as comfortable as possible for the cat.
Law of Refrigerator Observation - If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat.
Law of Electric Blanket Attraction - Turn on an electric blanket and a cat will jump into bed at the speed of light.
Law of Random Comfort Seeking - A cat will always seek, and usually take over, the most comfortable spot in any given room.
Law of Bag/Box Occupancy - All bags and boxes in a given room must contain a cat within the earliest possible nanosecond.
Law of Cat Embarrassment - A cat’s irritation rises in direct proportion to her embarrassment times the amount of human laughter.
Law of Cat Disinterest - A cat’s interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him.
Law of Cat Composition - A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn’t Matter.
Law of Cat Elongation - A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it.
Law of Cat Obstruction - A cat must lay on the floor in such a position to obstruct the maximum amount of human foot traffic.
Law of Cat Acceleration - A cat will accelerate at a constant rate, until he gets good and ready to stop.
Law of Dinner Table Attendance - Cats must attend all meals when anything good is served.
Law of Rug Configuration - No rug may remain in its naturally flat state for very long.
Law of Obedience Resistance - A cat’s resistance varies in proportion to a human’s desire for her to do something.
First Law of Energy Conservation - Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible.
Second Law of Energy Conservation - Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.
Law of Milk Consumption - A cat will drink his weight in milk, squared, just to show you he can.
Law of Furniture Replacement - A cat’s desire to scratch furniture is directly proportional to the cost of the furniture.
Law of Cat Landing - A cat will always land in the softest place possible; often the mid-section of an unsuspecting human.
Law of Fluid Displacement - A cat immersed in milk will displace her own volume, minus the amount of milk consumed.
by Author Unknown
A Fable
When the Arts in their infancy were,
In a fable of old ’tis express’d
A wise magpie constructed that rare
Little house for young birds, call’d a nest.
This was talk’d of the whole country round;
You might hear it on every bough sung,
“Now no longer upon the rough ground
Will fond mothers brood over their young.”
“For the magpie with exquisite skill
Has invented a moss-cover’d cell
Within which a whole family will
In the utmost security dwell.”
by Author Unknown: as published in Hamilton Wright Mabie, Edward Everett Hale, and William Byron Forbush, editors: “Childhood’s Favorites and Fairy Stories: The Young Folks Treasury” (1927)
When the Arts in their infancy were,
In a fable of old ’tis express’d
A wise magpie constructed that rare
Little house for young birds, call’d a nest.
This was talk’d of the whole country round;
You might hear it on every bough sung,
“Now no longer upon the rough ground
Will fond mothers brood over their young.”
“For the magpie with exquisite skill
Has invented a moss-cover’d cell
Within which a whole family will
In the utmost security dwell.”
by Author Unknown: as published in Hamilton Wright Mabie, Edward Everett Hale, and William Byron Forbush, editors: “Childhood’s Favorites and Fairy Stories: The Young Folks Treasury” (1927)
The Spider
Watch the busy spider,
He’s helpful as can be,
Eating insects all day long
Now they won’t bite me.
by Author Unknown
Watch the busy spider,
He’s helpful as can be,
Eating insects all day long
Now they won’t bite me.
by Author Unknown
The Woodpecker
Where do you suppose
The Woodpecker goes
When he carries those
Little crumbs away?
Across the lake, and
Across the land,
Clutching in his hand
A parcel of hay
For his little ones,
The Woodpecker runs.
For just a few crumbs,
He spends all the day
Flying to and fro,
But ne’er will I know
Just where he will go
Each time he flits away.
by Jean Mallette
Where do you suppose
The Woodpecker goes
When he carries those
Little crumbs away?
Across the lake, and
Across the land,
Clutching in his hand
A parcel of hay
For his little ones,
The Woodpecker runs.
For just a few crumbs,
He spends all the day
Flying to and fro,
But ne’er will I know
Just where he will go
Each time he flits away.
by Jean Mallette
Unhappy South Pole Penguin
Unhappy South Pole penguin
You are in a nasty mood
As you try to chew your dinner
which refuses to be chewed.
But a simple undertaking
Will improve your attitude -
You must first defrost your dinner
For your dinner’s frozen food!
by Author Unknown
Unhappy South Pole penguin
You are in a nasty mood
As you try to chew your dinner
which refuses to be chewed.
But a simple undertaking
Will improve your attitude -
You must first defrost your dinner
For your dinner’s frozen food!
by Author Unknown
