Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO A CRICKET, by ELIZA COOK


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO A CRICKET, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Merry cricket, twittering thing
Last Line: Partner in our jollity.
Subject(s): Crickets


Merry cricket, twittering thing,
How I love to hear thee sing!
Chirping tenant, child of mirth,
Minstrel of the poor man's hearth
Stay, merry cricket, stay and be
Companion in our jollity.

Winter days are round us now,
Stormy winds, and falling snow;
Pelting hail is rattling fast,
Driven by the northern blast;
Dark December's dreary night
Needs the faggot's blazing light:
Grandsires tell the goblin tale,
Urchins listen, -- mute and pale;
Misletoe is hung on high;
Christmas tide is drawing nigh;
Stay, merry cricket, stay and be
Partner in our jollity.

Holly branches deck the walls
Of peasants' cots, and barons' halls;
Scarlet berries peep between,
Twined with laurel, darkly green,
Close commingled, rudely bound,
Sacredly they wreathe around. --

Polished tankards grace the board;
Racks and cellars yield their hoard;
Flowing ale, with cheering zest,
Animates the song and jest;
Wine, rich, sparkling, greets the lip,
Such as Bacchus' self might sip;
Such that Horace might have sung
Praises of with honest tongue;
Giving to the world its name,
Sharing the Falernian fame. --
Laughing voices, bounding feet,
In many a happy circle meet;
Sports and feasting make the hours
Light as those in summer bowers;
Stay, then, merry cricket, stay,
Tarry with the glad and gay.

Spring about the oaken floor
Dread not pussy's murderous paw;
Dainty crumbs and fragments rare
Shall be scattered for thy fare;
Gambol in thy covert warm,
None shall chase thee, naught shall harm;
I will guard thee, for I dote
Upon thy timid whistling note.

Stay, then, merry cricket, stay,
Tarry with the glad and gay;
Share our blazing fire and be
Partner in our jollity.





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