Elizabeth Madox Roberts

From “Under the Tree”

WHEN I am playing by myself,

And all the boys are lost around,

Then I can hear the water go—

It makes a little talking sound.

Along the rocks below the tree,

I see it ripple up and wink;

And I can hear it saying on,

“And do you think? and do you think?”

A bug shoots by that snaps and ticks,

And a bird flies up beside the tree

To go into the sky to sing.

I hear it say, “Killdee, killdee!”

Or else a yellow cow comes down

To splash a while and have a drink.

But when she goes I still can hear

The water say, “And do you think?”