# Sing-Song: The Peach Tree on the Southern Wall - 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, Nature, Space - Topics: goodbye, peach, moon, again, heaven, never - Length: 408 words, about 3 min - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: The peach tree on the southern wall Has basked so long beneath the sun, Her score of peaches great and small Bloom rosy, every one. ## A peach for brothers, one for each A peach for brothers, one for each, A peach for you and a peach for me; But the biggest, rosiest, downiest peach For Grandmamma with her tea. ## A rose has thorns as well as honey A rose has thorns as well as honey, I’ll not have her for love or money; An iris grows so straight and fine, That she shall be no friend of mine; Snowdrops like the snow would chill me; Nightshade would caress and kill me; Crocus like a spear would fright me; Dragon’s-mouth might bark or bite me; Convolvulus but blooms to die; A wind-flower suggests a sigh Love-lies-bleeding makes me sad; And poppy-juice would drive me mad But give me holly, bold and jolly, Honest, prickly, shining holly; Pluck me holly leaf and berry For the day when I make merry. ## Is the moon tired? she looks so pale Is the moon tired? she looks so pale Within her misty veil: She scales the sky from east to west, And takes no rest. ## Before the coming of the night Before the coming of the night The moon shows papery white; Before the dawning of the day She fades away. ## If stars dropped out of heaven If stars dropped out of heaven, And if flowers took their place, The sky would still look very fair, And fair earth’s face. ## Winged angels might fly down to us Winged angels might fly down to us To pluck the stars, But we could only long for flowers Beyond the cloudy bars. ## “Goodbye in fear, goodbye in sorrow “Goodbye in fear, goodbye in sorrow, Goodbye, and all in vain, Never to meet again, my dear—” “Never to part again.” “Goodbye to-day, goodbye to-morrow, Goodbye till earth shall wane, Never to meet again, my dear—” “Never to part again.” ## If the sun could tell us half If the sun could tell us half That he hears and sees, Sometimes he would make us laugh, Sometimes make us cry: Think of all the birds that make Homes among the trees; Think of cruel boys who take Birds that cannot fly. ## If the moon came from heaven If the moon came from heaven, Talking all the way, What could she have to tell us, And what could she say? ## Picture credits - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain () - Arthur Hughes, Public domain ()