Take Your Children By Hand

Take your children by hand and a paper bag                                                                                 Hurry, don't let your feet too slowly drag                                                                                    Into the woods today we're headed for sure                                                                                                     Going to let nature give us a memorable tour                                                         
                                                                                                                                                             Now sun is yellow and warm making bright our faces                                                                             Soon we'll be in cool dark green whispering places
Big things we see, gigantic boulders, tall pine trees
We're looking for tiny things hidden under rocks                            
logs and leaves

We might find a Lady Slipper and give it to Mom
A Jack-in-the-Pulpit we could give to Uncle Rom
Sweet berries are every where, but we mustn't eat
Watch the birds, see if they do make them a treat

Shush, I hear a sound coming from that hallow log                                                                          on the ground
It might be a frog, chipmunk, or possibly a fairy
sneaking around
"I believe your imagination has gone off in a whirl
You funny child, it's only a fluffy brown squirrel"

The sun now a orange and red in the lower cooler
darkened sky,
To the birds, frogs, chipmunks, squirrels, and                                                                                  possibly a fairy say goodbye
Get your rocks, berries, Lady Slippers, your leaves, moss and wood
When we get home and empty your bag, we'll see that you did really good

Place the moss in the garden, rocks and wood on your shelf in a row,
Your golden leaves pressed in wax paper and hung in the kitchen window.
All that fresh air, running and climbing has made you a sleepy head,
Eat your supper, have your hot shower, then off you go to bed.

Dreaming about the Lady slippers, frogs, squirrels and possibly a fairy no longer in its secret place,
When morning comes and your refreshed, check the bag, make sure it's empty---just saying in case.                                                              
  
Author Eileen Clark 

Image:https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10790