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Padraic Colum - The Toy-Maker
Work rating: Low

I AM the Toy-maker; I have brought from the town
As much in my plack as should fetch a whole crown,
I`ll array for you now my stock of renown
And man`s the raree will show you.

Here`s a horse that is rearing to bound through the smoke
Of cannon and musket, and, face to that ruck,
The horseman with sword ready-held for the stroke,
Lord Lucan, maybe, or Prince Charlie.

An old woman sitting and waiting for call,
With her baskets of cockles and apples and all;
A one-legged sailor attending a ball,
And a tailor and nailer busy.

Or would you have these? A goose ganging by,
With head up in challenge to all who come nigh;
A cock with a comb dangling over his eye,
And a hen on a clutch nicely sitting;

Or a duck that is chasing a quick thing around,
Or a crow that is taking three hops on the ground,
Or an ass with head down (he is held in a pound);
Or a fox with his tail curled around him?

A ship made of shells that have sheen of the sea,
All ready to sail for black Barbarie,
The Lowlands of Holland, or High Germanic
And who`ll be the one that will steer her?

I`ll speak of my trade: there`s a day beyond day
When the hound needn`t hunt and the priest needn`t pray,
And the clerk needn`t write, and the hen needn`t lay,
Whence come all the things that I show you.

I am the Toy-maker; upon the town wall
My crib is high up; I have down-look on all,
And coach and wheelbarrow I carve in my stall,
Making things with no troubles in them.
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