Peet-Weet

Sir Peet-Weet and his little wife
     Live yonder by the water’s edge,
A merry life, a busy life,
A life of love, and not of strife
     Close nestled in the sandy sedge,
Where the great hungry billows gnaw;
     A fairy creature is Sir Peet;
Such slender legs you never saw,
Not larger than a barley-straw;
     Yet wind and wave are not so fleet.

While madam sits upon her eggs,—
     Four spotted eggs, a pair for each,—
He loves to match his nimble legs
Against the breaker as it drags
     The sand-drift up and down the beach.
So fast behind the wave he trips,
     You hardly see his little feet;
Below him in the wet sand, slips
His picture, and their toes touch tips,
     And their pink bills in kissing meet.

To see them chasing you would say
     The giant Ocean and his pet
Were let our for a holiday,
Playing at “tag” as children play,
     And laughing at the fun they get.
‘Tis more than fun; the big bluff sea
     To his small friend brings savory meat:
Peet dines, and hurries, full of glee,
To set his faithful lady free,
     That she may run and dance and eat.