Ballad from Childhood

Mommy mommy come and see
what the strawmen left for me
in our land of ice and house of snow
I have found a seed to grow
Mommy may I plant a tree?

What the eyes don’t see the heart don’t hurt.

But mommy look the seed has wings
my tree might call a bird that sings…
true, the strawmen left no spade no earth
and ice will not bring my seed to birth—
but what if I dig beneath these things?

Watch the birds forget but the trap doesn’t.

Please mommy do not beat me so!
yes I will learn to love the snow!
yes I want neither seed nor tree!
yes ice is quite enough for me!
who knows what trouble-leaves might grow!

I don’t fatten frogs to feed snakes.