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Henry Van Dyke - Hide and Seek
Work rating: Low

All the trees are sleeping, all the winds are still,
All the flocks of fleecy clouds have wandered past the hill;
Through the noonday silence, down the woods of June,
Hark, a little hunter`s voice comes running with a tune.
             "Hide and seek!
             "When I speak,
             "You must answer me:
             "Call again,
             "Merry men,
        "Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!"

Now I hear his footsteps, rustling through the grass:
Hidden in my leafy nook, shall I let him pass?
Just a low, soft whistle,—quick the hunter turns,
Leaps upon me laughing, rolls me in the ferns.
             "Hold him fast,
             "Caught at last!
             "Now you`re it, you see.
             "Hide your eye,
             "Till I cry,
        "Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!"


                   II

Long ago he left me, long and long ago:
Now I wander through the world and seek him high and low;
Hidden safe and happy, in some pleasant place,—
Ah, if I could hear his voice, I soon should find his face.
             Far away,
             Many a day,
             Where can Barney be?
             Answer, dear,
             Don`t you hear?
         Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!

Birds that in the spring-time thrilled his heart with joy,
Flowers he loved to pick for me, mind me of my boy.
Surely he is waiting till my steps come nigh;
Love may hide itself awhile, but love can never die.
             Heart, be glad,
             The little lad
             Will call some day to thee:
             "Father dear,
             "Heaven is here,
        "Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!"
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