Red, spotted, white, a goodly band
Of cows and calves came nigh;
And Mr. Donkey said that he
Would cowslips like to try.
And Mrs. Mare came with her foal,
And Mr. Horse came too,
And several sheep with frisky lambs,
In woolen dresses new.
Then Mrs. Brindle bade her guests
The cowslips sweet to eat;
And if they wished to drink, she said,
The brook was clear and sweet.
They ate and drank, and chatted too;
And, when they went away,
Said, "Thank you for your cowslip feast,
Dear brindle cow, to-day."
I thought the sparrow's note from heaven,
Singing at dawn on the elder bough;
I brought him home; in his nest, at even,
He sings the song, but it pleases not now:
For I did not bring home the river and sky—
He sang to my ear; they sang to my eye.