The First Tooth

There once was a wood, and a very thick wood,

So thick that to walk was as much as you could;

But a sunbeam got in, and the trees understood.

I went to this wood, at the end of the snows,

And as I was walking I saw a primrose;

Only one! Shall I show you the place where it grows?

There once was a house, and a very dark house,

As dark, I believe, as the hole of a mouse,

Or a tree in my wood, at the thick of the boughs.

I went to this house, and I searched it aright,

I opened the chambers, and I found a light;

Only one! Shall I show you this little lamp bright?

There once was a cave, and this very dark cave

One day took a gift from an incoming wave;

And I made up my mind to know what the sea gave.

I took a lit torch, I walked round the ness

When the water was lowest; and in a recess

In my cave was a jewel. Will nobody guess?

O there was a baby, he sat on my knee,

With a pearl in his mouth that was precious to me,

His little dark mouth like my cave of the sea!

I said to my heart, "And my jewel is bright!

He blooms like a primrose! He shines like a light!"

Put your hand in his mouth! Do you feel? He can bite!