ALLIE

Allie, call the birds in,

The birds from the sky!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

Down they all fly:

First there came

Two white doves,

Then a sparrow from his nest,

Then a clucking bantam hen,

Then a robin red-breast.

Allie, call the beasts in,

The beasts, every one!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

In they all run:

First there came

Two black lambs,

Then a grunting Berkshire sow,

Then a dog without a tail,

Then a red and white cow.

Allie, call the fish up,

The fish from the stream!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

Up they all swim:

First there came

Two gold fish,

A minnow and a miller's thumb,

Then a school of little trout,

Then the twisting eels come.

Allie, call the children,

Call them from the green!

Allie calls, Allie sings,

Soon they run in:

First there came

Tom and Madge,

Kate and I who'll not forget

How we played by the water's edge

Till the April sun set.

[From Country Sentiment (1920)]