Hide and Seek

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!"