Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

Poems by William Allingham (Author: William Allingham)

poem 1

p.23

These little Songs

1. These little Songs,
   Found here and there,
   Floating in air
   By forest and lea,
   Or hill-side heather,
   In houses and throngs,
   Or down by the sea—
   Have come together,
   How, I can't tell:
   But I know full well
   No witty goose-wing
   On an inkstand begot 'em;
   Remember each place
   And moment of grace,
   In summer or spring,
   Winter or autumn
   By sun, moon, stars,
   Or a coal in the bars,
   In market or church,
   Graveyard or dance,
   When they came without search,
   Were found as by chance.
   A word, a line,
   You may say are mine;
   But the best in the songs,
   Whatever it be,
   To you, and to me,
   And to no one belongs.