Many legends down ages retold.
Lanterns! Lanterns! For children to hold.
Buy some lanterns for your little ones:
One for your daughters, one for your sons!
When by darkness the world is enfold,
Little children enact tales of old.
How prettily the candle will dance,
In such a way your child to entrance!
How daintily his/her little hand will
Try not to shake, and to keep it still!
Buy lanterns! Make the world gay with light:
Red light, green light, blue light – bright at night!

When they see you and guy a-walking,
They call it courtship;
When they see you and a guy a-talking,
They pass knowing smiles and well-meaning quips.

When both of you are a-quarrelling,
They say that the rough must come with the smooth;
Before long, one is a-sorrowing –
Not for the row (as they think) but over a lost tooth.

And then both of you stop seeing each other,
They think it such an unpardonable crime;
All that time trying to bring you together…
‘Tis a shame the wedding bells are ne’er to chime.

Life is lik’n to lightning;
Like the mist it does pass;
Oh! What is life – this thing
That can ne’er for long last?

See the clouds near heaven;
See the dewdrops – like glass
Life is shattered, broken;
Oh! Life does go by fast!

Life, like the rose, a flower,
Quickly withers and fades;
Dries as passeth each hour;
The soul to heav’n or hades.

See the flick'ring candle,
Watch it splutter and cough.
Life, o thou brief candle,
At old age do not scoff!

Yet, ere life dims away,
Ere our souls to God go,
Make the best of our day,
Make a friend of our foe.

To the rankers shall I call:
“Pride goeth before a fall - !
Do not think yourself too smart,
And end up pulling a cart!”

Alas my love I’m a minute late,
But tell me, love, that thou forgive me;
Alas, show me not that cruel is fate,
Say that thou forgive – that I may live.
Forgive me, sweetheart, Rose of the morn,
Why refuseth thou to look at me?
Why doth thou turn from me with such scorn?
Yea, put away that look and kiss me.

I raced across from field to field,
Felt the wind sweeping past my face;
Feast’d my eyes on the golden yield:
On the padi dancing with grace.

A rain-drop rested on my palm,
A silver-drop from heavens high.
Nature’s cool freshness is a balm,
Rests the mind aft resting the eye.

I saw a youthful sunny face
Whose eyes were flushed with a soft light;
As at it I did gape and gaze,
The world grew dim, the face grew bright.

I shook my head, I blinked my eyes;
Across the face danced a soft glow.
It smiled and dimmed into the skies;
I looked everywhere high and low.

I saw it thrice, I lost it thrice;
I missed it a hundred times more.
It seemed to tease with gentle eyes,
And with parting smiles left me sore.

All the world is dim – she alone is light.
With grace moves her limb – she delights my sight.
Aloof like a queen – a fairy she is.
Expression serene – in heavenly bliss.
Her smiles are gracious – warm and enchanting.
Expressive features – to top everything.
Her eyes bright and clear – with laughter supressed,
Tease the audience here – her smile does confess.