Ganderfeather's Gift

I was just a little thing

When a fairy came and kissed me;

Floating in upon the light

Of a haunted summner night,

Lo, the fairies came to sing

Pretty slumber songs and bring

Certain boons that else had missed me.

From a dream I turned to see

What those strangers brought for me,

When that fairy up and kissed me—

Here, upon this cheek, he kissed me!

Simmerdew was there, but she

Did not like me altogether;

Daisybright and Turtledove,

Pilfercurds and Honeylove,

Thistleblow and Amberglee

On that gleaming, ghostly sea

Floated from the misty heather,

And around my trundle-bed

Frisked, and looked, and whispering said—

Solemnlike and all together:

"You shall kiss him, Ganderfeather!"

Ganderfeather kissed me then—

Ganderfeather, quaint and merry!

No attenuate sprite was he,

—But as buxom as could be;—

Kissed me twice, and once again,

And the others shouted when

On my cheek uprose a berry

Somewhat like a mole, mayhap,

But the kiss-mark of that chap

Ganderfeather, passing merry—

Humorsome, but kindly, very!

I was just a tiny thing

When the prankish Ganderfeather

Brought this curious gift to me

With his fairy kisses three;

Yet with honest pride I sing

That same gift he chose to bring

Out of yonder haunted heather.

Other charms and friendships fly

Constant friends this mole and I,

Who have been so long together.

Thank you, little Ganderfeather!