Henry Cogswell Knight

Henry Cogswell Knight Poems

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The Five Senses

As loitering in the meadows, where dandelions grow,
And where my grandsire grazes his crumple-horned cow;
I saw five airy hoidens, and came across their way,
And after lowly courtesy, I made a little stay.

They told me they were sisters, but look'd as much unlike,
As pins and needles, pear and peach, or rivulet and dike;
One smack'd her lips as hungry, one hearkened to a rook,
One snuff'd the air, one fann'd her face, one gazed in a brook.

The first was named Tasting, and showed a cheek of cherry.
And had her lips all stained o'er with purple of the berry;
Miss Hearing next requested, I'd sing her ' Robin Hood,'
'Unfortunate Miss Bailie,' or ' Children in the Wood.'

Miss Smelling was the third one, who held up to her nose
A freshly gathered posy of fleur-de-luce and rose;
The fourth, whose name was Feeling, was lolling at her ease,
While up-and-down so willing, her tucker wooed the breeze.

Bright Seeing was the fifth one, above the rest respected,
Who in the brook was gazing, her beauty-spots reflected:—
Now these five airy Sisters, to live unwed declin'd,
So married all one husband—the gallant Mr. Mind.

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