"Give us Peace, Peace," said the peoples oppressed, "Not so many Flags, Not so many Flags." But the Flags fly and the Drums beat, denying rest, And the children starve, they shiver in rags. ALLIE. Allie, call the birds in, The birds from the sky. Allie calls, Allie sings, Down they all fly. First there came Two white doves Then a sparrow from his nest, Then a clucking bantam hen, Then a robin red-breast. Allie, call the beasts in, The beasts, every one. Allie calls, Allie sings, In they all run. First there came Two black lambs, Then a grunting Berkshire sow, Then a dog without a tail, Then a red and white cow. Allie, call the fish up, The fish from the stream. Allie calls, Allie sings, Up they all swim. First there came Two gold fish, A minnow and a miller's thumb, Then a pair of loving trout, Then the twisted eels come. Allie, call the children, Children from the green. Allie calls, Allie sings, Soon they run in. First there came Tom and Madge, Kate and I who'll not forget How we played by the water's edge Till the April sun set. LOVING HENRY. Henry, Henry, do you love me? Do I love you, Mary? Oh, can you mean to liken me To the aspen tree. Whose leaves do shake and vary, From white to green And back again, Shifting and contrary? Henry, Henry, do you love me, Do you love me truly? Oh, Mary, must I say again My love's a pain, A torment most unruly? It tosses me Like a ship at sea When the storm rages fully. Henry, Henry, why do you love me? Mary, dear, have pity! I swear, of all the girls there are Both near and far, In country or in city, There's none like you, So kind, so true, So wise, so brave, so pretty. BRITTLE BONES. Though I am an old man With my bones very brittle, Though I am a poor old man Worth very little, Yet I suck at my long pipe At peace in the sun, I do not fret nor much regret That my work is done. If I were a young man With my bones full of marrow, Oh, if I were a bold young man Straight as an arrow, And if I had the same years To live once again, I would not change their simple range Of laughter and pain. If I were a young man And young was my Lily, A smart girl, a bold young man, Both of us silly. And though from time before I knew She'd stab me with pain, Though well I knew she'd not be true, I'd love her again.