His Simple Song

Sing me a simple song tonight,

     A song of hope and rest;

So full of peacefulness it might

     Have sprung from mother’s breast.

I want no merry roundelay,

     Nor yet a martial air;

No classic strain, but just a plain

     Old ballad, free from care.

Sing me a simple ditty, please,

     One of no great pretense;

A good, old homelike time to ease

     My feelings, most intense.

I’m weary of the work a day,

     Where toil and worry teems;

Please sing tonight a strain so light,

     ‘Twill lull me off to dreams.

Ah, just a simple song tonight,

     As plain as it can be;

It cannot be too soft or light,

     Or simple, dear, for me.

You have no such? Ah, never mind,

     You charming little elf;

I have one here, quite simple dear,

     ‘Tis one I wrote myself!

May 25, ‘09