Listening To Celestial Lays

    '"Listening to celestial lays,
    Bending thy unclouded gaze
    On the pure and living light,
    Thou art blest, Aslauga's Knight!"

Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist and poet best known as the author of the novel 'Little Women' and its sequels 'Little Men' and 'Jo's Boys.' Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, she grew up in Massachusetts. She was an abolitionist and a feminist and was active in both the Transcendentalist and suffragist movements. Alcott began writing to support her family and went on to publish numerous works that have had a lasting impact on American literature.

Louisa May Alcott

Rock A Bye, Babies

Louisa May Alcott, Simple Poetry

Summer Days Are Over

Louisa May Alcott, Simple Poetry

Work, Neighbor, Work!

Louisa May Alcott, Simple Poetry

Chingery Wangery Chan

Louisa May Alcott, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

A Little Bird I Am

"A little bird I am,
Shut from the fields of air,
And in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there:
Well pleased a prisoner to be,
Because, my God, it pleases Thee!


"Naught have I else to do;
I sing the whole day long;
And He whom most I love to please
Doth listen to my song,
He caught and bound my wandering wing,
But still He bends to hear me sing."

Louisa May Alcott

They Saw Again The Crocus Bloom

They saw again the crocus bloom,
And, leaning from that lofty room,
Sir Launcelot with face of gloom
Look down to Camelot.
Up flew their veils and floated wide,
But Livy pinned them to her side,
'The curse has come upon us!' cried
The ladies of Shalott.

Louisa May Alcott

Mountain--Laurel

My bonnie flower, with truest joy
Thy welcome face I see,
The world grows brighter to my eyes,
And summer comes with thee.
My solitude now finds a friend,
And after each hard day,
I in my mountain garden walk,
To rest, or sing, or pray.

All down the rocky slope is spread
Thy veil of rosy snow,
And in the valley by the brook,
Thy deeper blossoms grow.
The barren wilderness grows fair,
Such beauty dost thou give;
And human eyes and Nature's heart
Rejoice that thou dost live.

Each year I wait thy coming, dear,
Each year I love thee more,
For life grows hard, and much I need
Thy honey for my store.
So, like a hungry bee, I sip
Sweet lessons from thy cup,
And sitting at a flower's feet,
My soul learns to look up.
...

Louisa May Alcott

Nearer To Thee

    "Nearer, my God, to thee,
    E'en though a cross it be
    That raiseth me,
    Still all my song shall be,
    Nearer, my God, to thee.
    Nearer to thee!"

Louisa May Alcott

Lily-Bell

"Bright shines the summer sun,
Soft is the summer air;
Gayly the wood-birds sing,
Flowers are blooming fair.

"But, deep in the dark, cold rock,
Sadly I dwell,
Longing for thee, dear friend,
Lily-Bell! Lily-Bell!"


"Through sunlight and summer air
I have sought for thee long,
Guided by birds and flowers,
And now by thy song.

"Thistledown! Thistledown!
O'er hill and dell
Hither to comfort thee
Comes Lily-Bell."

Louisa May Alcott

Now Hark, Little May

    "Now hark, little May,
    If you want to do right,
    Under your pillow
    Just look every night.
    If you have been good
    All through the day,
    A gift you will find,
    Useful or gay;
    But if you have been
    Cross, selfish, or wild,
    A bad thing will come
    For the naughty child.
    So try, little dear,
    And soon you will see
    How easy and sweet
    To grow good it will be."


    "Ha, ha, you can't see,
    Although I am here;
    But listen to what
    I say in your ear.
    Tell no one of this.
    Because, if you do,
    My fun will be spoilt,
    And so will yours too.
    But if you are good,
    And patient, and gay,
    A real fairy will come
    To see l...

Louisa May Alcott