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Robyn Hood Black - children's author, poet, artist

Life on the Deckle Edge

Poetry Friday - The Kind Little Mouse

December 18, 2025
Tags: -Poetry Friday, Christmas poem, mouse poem, Carolyn S. Bailey, Little Folks

 

Greetings, Poetry Lovers! I hope you are finding joy in this holiday season, even as the world has plenty of turmoil.

 

I found a poem in the December, 1907, issue of LITTLE FOLKS magazine (S. E. Cassino Co., Salem, Mass.) to share. It's by Carolyn S. Bailey and features a small mouse with a big heart.

 

   The Kind Little Mouse

 

     by Carolyn S. Bailey

 

OH, one little Stocking was mended and whole,

   And hung by the fire with care,

And one full of holes on the nursery floor,

   Too ragged and worn to wear:

And no one was awake in all the house

But one little, still little, kind little Mouse!

 

Then down through the flue did Santa Claus come,

   All ashes and chimney-stuff,

To fill the whole Stocking a-bursting with toys

   Till he thought he'd filled it enough:

And the kind little Mouse said he didn't believe

There was any so fat that Christmas Eve!

 

Then Santa drove on, and the fire buned low,

   And lower, till by and by  

The poor little Stocking that had no toys

   Sat up and was like to cry:

But nobody heard it in all the house

Save that one little, still little, kind wee mouse!

 

"It isn't my fault I'm worn out," it said;

   "And the holes are but small -- oh, dear,

To think that to-night it is Christmas Eve,

  And I'm sitting empty here!"

Then the Mouse stopped nibbling his Christmas cheese:

"Don't cry, little Stocking," he said; "don't, please!"

 

Then that small little, kind little Mouse, he crept

   In the empty stocking's toe:

Oh, he gave himself -- it was all that he had --

  He could do no more, you know!

Such a kind little, good little, dear little Mouse,

That Christmas Eve in the lonely old house!

 

 

For more goodness and warmth, visit our multi-talented Michelle who is offering light and an amazing art exhibit this week along with the Roundup.  Thank you, Michelle!  We can all use all the light we can get.  Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating this week, and Merry Christmas to those celebrating next week.  And, Happy Winter Solstice on Sunday!  We will be in Georgia celebrating our second baby grand's first birthday this weekend.  Time does fly. And selfless love, like that of the wee mouse in this poem, is timeless -- and perfectly on point for Christmas, seems to me.

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Poetry Friday - Simple, Poetic Holiday Gems...

December 21, 2017
Tags: Poetry Friday, Poetry, Holidays, Christmas poem, New Years poem, old poems, ponderings
I couldn't find my bag of wreaths and lights this year - typical. So I conjured this one up from Walmart "ingredients" - it works, and it's a change from our usual colors!

It's been a week... a year, in fact, if you want to know the truth. Some years are like that!

Since posting about the loss of Beaufort's Bennett last week, we swung to the other side of the emotional spectrum with a visit from son Seth, who found out while here that he got into Emory's Candler School of Theology for next year, with good scholarship news as well.

And then, Thursday, we had to say goodbye to the kitty Seth had gotten as a young boy. Lancelot had a good, long life, but it's never easy parting with a beloved four-legged family member.

My recent weeks have also been filled with artsyletters orders, so that's been great - but busy. As I'm still toting around a boot for the Achilles I re-injured last summer, some things just didn't get done this holiday season. Postcards instead of actual cards. And, written on the ones to folks I usually send little holiday goodies to, just a note saying, "Packages aren't happening this year - but sending love."

My hubby set up the tree after Seth got here, and Seth hung some ornaments. I was still hanging after he drifted out of the room. At some point I looked at the tree, looked down at the ornament box, and back at the tree. Despite the fact that several ornaments were still inside the box, I closed the lid. The tree was full enough, for this year anyway.

I finally just bought ingredients and loaf pans for cranberry bread. Maybe it will get made. Maybe some loaves will be given away. And maybe another reason I gave myself a pass on the home front is that we'll be travelling - three little trips - in and out this holiday season to see family, rather than hosting folks here.

So in the spirit of less-is-more because that's all I can manage this year, I went hunting for a simple holiday poem or two. I found a couple of gems in the 1952 edition of THE ARBUTHNOT ANTHOLOGY OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, a volume that my mother-in-law loaned me years ago and that somehow I still haven't quite returned....

Enjoy.


GLADDE THINGS

(Unknown)

Of gladde things there be four, ay four:
A Larke above ye olde nest blithely singing,
A wild Rose clinging
In safety to a rock, A Shepherd bringing
A Lambe found in his arms,
And Christmasse Bells a-ringing.

That makes me smile so!

And, because this time next week we'll be getting in from Hither and heading right back out the door to Yon, here's an early New Year's poem.


NEW YEAR'S DAY

by Rachel Field

Last night, while we were fast asleep,
      The old year went away.
It can't come back again because
      A new one's come to stay.


[Rachel Field lived from 1894 to 1942. She won the 1930 Newbery Medal for Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, and penned the gorgeous and beloved poem, "Something Told the Wild Geese."]

Wishing you and yours a lovely holiday season, and remembering those for whom holidays, and winter, are tough. The solstice is just behind us now, so on toward the light of a New Year! (See you in two weeks.)

Follow the light to this week's Roundup, graciously hosted by our beloved Buffy.
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