THE PIPER ON THE HILLS; A CHILD'S SONG by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER

THERE sits a piper on the hill
Who pipes the livelong day,
And when he pipes both loud and shrill,
The frightened people say:
'The wind, the wind is blowing up,
'Tis rising to a gale.'
The women hurry to the shore
To watch some distant sail.
@3The wind, the wind, the wind, the wind,
Is blowing to a gale.@1

But when he pipes all sweet and low,
The piper on the hill,
I hear the merry women go
With laughter, loud and shrill:
'The wind, the wind is coming south,
'Twill blow a gentle day.'
They gather on the meadow-land,
To toss the yellow hay.
@3The wind, the wind, the wind, the wind,
Is blowing south to-day.@1

And in the morn, when winter comes,
To keep the piper warm,
The little Angels shake their wings
To make a feather storm:
'The snow, the snow has come at last!'
The happy children call,
And 'ring around' they dance in glee,
And watch the snowflakes fall.
@3The wind, the wind, the wind, the wind,
Has spread a snowy pall.@1

But when at night the piper plays,
I have not any fear,
Because God's windows open wide
The pretty tune to hear;
And when each crowding spirit looks,
From its star window-pane,
A watching mother may behold
Her little child again.
@3The wind, the wind, the wind, the wind,
May blow her home again.@1

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...