THE CHILDREN'S BELLS

Where are your Oranges?

Where are your Lemons?

What, are you silent now,

Bells of St. Clement's?[94]

You, of all bells that rang

Once in old London,

You, of all bells that sang,

Utterly undone?

You whom all children know

Ere they know letters,

Making Big Ben himself

Call you his betters?

Where are your lovely tones

Fruitful and mellow,

Full-flavoured orange-gold,

Clear lemon-yellow?

Ring again, sing again,

Bells of St. Clement's!

Call as you swing again,

"Oranges! Lemons!"

Fatherless children

Are listening near you—

Sing for the children,

The fathers will hear you.

Eleanor Farjeon