There once was a wood, and a very thick wood, <br />So thick that to walk was as much as you could; <br />But a sunbeam got in, and the trees understood. <br /> <br />I went to this wood, at the end of the snows, <br />And as I was walking I saw a primrose; <br />Only one! Shall I show you the place where it grows? <br /> <br />There once was a house, and a very dark house, <br />As dark, I believe, as the hole of a mouse, <br />Or a tree in my wood, at the thick of the boughs. <br /> <br />I went to this house, and I searched it aright, <br />I opened the chambers, and I found a light; <br />Only one! Shall I show you this little lamp bright? <br /> <br />There once was a cave, and this very dark cave <br />One day took a gift from an incoming wave; <br />And I made up my mind to know what the sea gave. <br /> <br />I took a lit torch, I walked round the ness <br />When the water was lowest; and in a recess <br />In my cave was a jewel. Will nobody guess? <br /> <br />O there was a baby, he sat on my knee, <br />With a pearl in his mouth that was precious to me, <br />His little dark mouth like my cave of the sea! <br /> <br />I said to my heart, "And my jewel is bright! <br />He blooms like a primrose! He shines like a light!" <br />Put your hand in his mouth! Do you feel? He can bite!<br /><br />William Brighty Rands<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-first-tooth/
