Story Reads: 22,751

 

To and fro, to and fro
In my little boat I go
Sailing far across the sea
All alone, just little me.
And the sea is big and strong
And the journey very long.
To and fro, to and fro
In my little boat I go.

Sea and sky, sea and sky,
Quietly on the deck I lie,
Having just a little rest.
I have really done my best
In an awful pirate fight,
But we captured them all right.
Sea and sky, sea and sky,
Quietly on the deck I lie–

Far away, far away
From my home and from my play,
On a journey without end
Only with the sea for friend
And the fishes in the sea.
But they swim away from me
Far away, far away
From my home and from my play.

Then he cried “O Mother dear.”
And he woke and sat upright,
They were in the rocking chair,
Mother’s arms around him–tight.

 

POEMS FOR KIDS BY KATHERINE MANSFIELD

Header illustration from Pixabay, with thanks.

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Creativity

1. Why do you think the boy dreamt that he was moving back and forth on the sea?

Independent Thinking

2. What do you think this poem might say about the way the little boy sees his mother?