# Sing-Song: Minnie Bakes Oaten Cakes - Source: Sing-Song (sing-song.gutenberg.org), Public domain, Christina Rossetti, pictures by Arthur Hughes, 1872, via Project Gutenberg - Reading level: Ages 4 to 6 - Subjects: Poems, Animals, Food - Topics: cherry, look, rose, minnie, playing, while - Length: 316 words, about 2 min - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: Minnie bakes oaten cakes, Minnie brews ale, All because her Johnny’s coming Home from sea. And she glows like a rose, Who was so pale, And “Are you sure the church clock goes?” Says she. ## A white hen sitting A white hen sitting On white eggs three: Next, three speckled chickens As plump as plump can be. ## An owl, and a hawk An owl, and a hawk, And a bat come to see: But chicks beneath their mother’s wing Squat safe as safe can be. ## Currants on a bush Currants on a bush, And figs upon a stem, And cherries on a bending bough, And Ned to gather them. ## Playing at bob cherry Playing at bob cherry Tom and Nell and Hugh: Cherry bob! cherry bob! There’s a bob for you. ## Tom bobs a cherry Tom bobs a cherry For gaping snapping Hugh, While curly-pated Nelly Snaps at it too. ## Look, look, look— Look, look, look— Oh what a sight to see! The wind is playing cherry bob With the cherry tree. ## I have but one rose in the world I have but one rose in the world, And my one rose stands a-drooping: Oh, when my single rose is dead There’ll be but thorns for stooping. ## Rosy maiden Winifred Rosy maiden Winifred, With a milkpail on her head, Tripping through the corn, While the dew lies on the wheat In the sunny morn. Scarlet shepherd’s-weatherglass Spreads wide open at her feet As they pass; Cornflowers give their almond smell While she brushes by, And a lark sings from the sky “All is well.” ## Blind from my birth Blind from my birth, Where flowers are springing I sit on earth All dark. Hark! hark! A lark is singing, His notes are all for me, For me his mirth:— Till some day I shall see Beautiful flowers And birds in bowers Where all Joy Bells are ringing. ## Picture credits - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain ()