The Wind and the Moon

AID the Wind to the Moon, "I will blow you out! You stare In the air As if crying 'Beware,' Always looking what I am about : I hate to be watched; I will blow you out ! The Wind blew hard, and out went the Moon. So, deep On a heap Of clouds, to sleep, Down lay the Wind, and slumbered soon, Muttering low, "I've done for that Moon!" He turned in his bed: she was there again! Onhigh In the sky, With her one ghost-eye The Moon shone white and alive and plain: Said the Wind, "I will blow you out again!" THE WIND AND THE MOON The Wind blew hard, and the Moon grew slim. "With my sledge And my wedge I have knocked off her edge ! Iwill blow," said the Wind, "right fierce and grim, And the creature will soon be slimmer than slim!" He blew and he blew, and she thinned to a thread. "One puff More's enough To blow her to snuff ! One good puff more where the last was bred, Andglimmer, glimmer, glum will go that thread!" Heblew a great blast, and the thread wasgone. In the air Nowhere Was a moonbeam bare ; Larger and nearer the shy stars shone : Sure and certain the Moon was gone! The Wind he took to his revels once more ; On down Andin town, A merry-mad clown, He leaped and holloed with whistle and roarWhenthere was that glimmering thread once more! He flew in a rage-he danced and blew ; But in vain Was the pain Of his bursting brain, For still the Moon-scrap the broader grew The more that he swelled his big cheeks andblew. SLEIGH SONG Slowly she grew-till she filled the night, And shone On her throne In the sky alone, Amatchless, wonderful, silvery light, Radiant and lovely, the queen of the night. Said the Wind: "What a marvel of power am I ! With mybreath, Ingood faith, I blew her to death! First blew her away right out of the sky, Then blew her in: what a strength am I!" But the Moon she knew naught of the silly affair; For, high In the sky, With her one white eye, Motionless miles above the air, She never had heard the great Windblare.