When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay,
To keep me happy all the day.
And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;
And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.
I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.
I have been looking for this Poem for a long time. It is the very first poem I ever had to memorize. I remember the hours my mother spent with me helping me. It helps bring back fond memories of my mother.
I also remember learning this poem in primary school and lately have wanted to visit the poets I love. I also like John Masefield's 'Sea Fever'.
I remember my second English lesson at grammar school when we were asked to bring in our favourite poem to read aloud to the class. I was the only child in the class who came from a council estate with a father who had spent his life working in a factory, the other children had fathers who were doctors, solicitors, headmasters etc you get the picture! We didn't have many books but I did still have a board book with a colourful cover and broken spine which contained just 8 poems, The Land of Counterpane was my favourite - I liked the picture too! I remember turning bright red as I looked at the other children standing up and reading poems from Shakespeare, Browning, Tennyson, some from leather bound books, and here was I standing up reading my battered little board book and hearing the other children giggle and seeing the teacher smirk. I couldn't remember who wrote this poem and it was the last time I ever looked it as I throw the book away on the way home, but here it is and 49 years down the line I can read it again and actually enjoy it and be proud that at least I read out a poem from a renowned poet, even if I didn't realise that at the time!
Aw, that was sad! I think it's wonderful that you were in Grammar School as you were there without the same opportunities money buys. Yours would have been a poem you actually liked and enjoyed , it's very unlikely the rest of the class sat down and soaked in Shakespeare & other Victorian poets at that age! Stupid teacher!
Nice poem sir, Please send like this same poem on my Gmail account mayurhkalasar08gmail
I've just read this poem to my husband hes getting me a poem book by Robert Louis Stevenson lm so pleased l found this poem its reminds me of childhood thanks
This was a poem l remember from school.it was lovely to read it again.
awesome poem! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I love this poem. It is only one of two poems I remember my granddad liking. Everytime I read it it brings back good memories. I must say this is my favorite poem.