Poem: “The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet” by Henry Van Dyke

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American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Henry Van Dyke – Poems by Henry Van Dyke
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The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

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Where’s your kingdom, little king? Where the land you call your own, Where your palace and your throne?Fluttering lightly on the wing Through the blossom-world of May, Whither lies your royal way, Little king?

Far to northward lies a land Where the trees together stand Closely as the blades of wheat When the summer is complete. Rolling like an ocean wide Over vale and mountainside, Balsam, hemlock, spruce and pine,— All those mighty trees are mine. There’s a river flowing free,— All its waves belong to me. There’s a lake so clear and bright Stars shine out of it all night; Rowan-berries round it spread Like a belt of coral red. Never royal garden planned Fair as my Canadian land! There I build my summer nest, There I reign and there I rest, While from dawn to dark I sing, Happy kingdom! Lucky king!

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Back again, my little king! Is your happy kingdom lost To the rebel knave, Jack Frost?Have you felt the snow-flakes sting? Houseless, homeless in October, Whither now? Your plight is sober, Exiled king!

Far to southward lie the regions Where my loyal flower-legions Hold possession of the year, Filling every month with cheer. Christmas wakes the winter rose; New Year daffodils unclose; Yellow jasmine through the wood Flows in February flood, Dropping from the tallest trees Golden streams that never freeze. Thither now I take my flight Down the pathway of the night, Till I see the southern moon Glisten on the broad lagoon, Where the cypress’ dusky green, And the dark magnolia’s sheen, Weave a shelter round my home. There the snow-storms never come; There the bannered mosses gray Like a curtain gently sway, Hanging low on every side Round the covert where I bide, Till the March azalea glows, Royal red and heavenly rose, Through the Carolina glade Where my winter home is made. There I hold my southern court, Full of merriment and sport: There I take my ease and sing, Happy kingdom! Lucky king!

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Little boaster, vagrant king, Neither north nor south is yours, You’ve no kingdom that endures!Wandering every fall and spring, With your ruby crown so slender, Are you only a Pretender, Landless king?

Never king by right divine Ruled a richer realm than mine! What are lands and golden crowns, Armies, fortresses and towns, Jewels, sceptres, robes and rings,— What are these to song and wings? Everywhere that I can fly, There I own the earth and sky; Everywhere that I can sing. There I’m happy as a king.

1900.

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American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Henry Van Dyke – Poems by Henry Van Dyke

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The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

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