WHAT fragrant-footed comer <br />Is stepping o’er my head? <br />Behold, my queen! the Summer! <br />Who deems her warriors dead. <br />Now rise, ye knights of many fights, <br />From out your sleep profound! <br />Make sharp your spears, my gallant peers, <br />And prick the frozen ground. <br /> <br />Before the White Host harm her, <br />We ’ll hurry to her aid; <br />We ’ll don our elfin armor, <br />And every tiny blade <br />Shall bear atop a dewy drop, <br />The life-blood of the frost, <br />Till from their king the order ring: <br />“Fall back! the day is lost.” <br /> <br />Now shame to knighthood, brothers! <br />Must Summer plead in vain? <br />And shall I wait till others <br />My crown of sunshine gain? <br />Alone this day I ’ll dare the fray, <br />Alone the victory win; <br />In me my queen shall find, I ween, <br />A sturdy paladin. <br /> <br />To battle! Ho! King Winter <br />Hath rushed on me apace,— <br />My fragile blade doth splinter <br />Beneath his icy mace. <br />I stagger back. I yield—alack! <br />I fall. My senses pass. <br />Woe worth the chance for doughtiest lance <br />Of all the House of Grass! <br /> <br />Last hope my heart gives over. <br />But hark! a shout of cheer! <br />Don Daisy and Count Clover, <br />Sir Buttercup, are here! <br />Behold! behold! with shield of gold <br />Prince Dandelion comes. <br />Lord Bumble-Bee beats valiantly <br />His rolling battle-drums. <br /> <br />My brothers leave their slumbers <br />And lead the van of war; <br />Before our swelling numbers <br />The foes are driven far. <br />The day’s our own; but, overthrown, <br />A little Knight in green, <br />I kiss her feet and deem it sweet <br />To perish for my queen.<br /><br />Katharine Lee Bates<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-little-knight-in-green/
