What I Like

By Frances Gorman Risser

My brother likes big palaces

Of marble, shining white;

My sister thinks a cottage, quaint,

Can give the most delight.

But when I’m grown, I’m going to build

A tree house—maybe two—

So that I’ll have a cozy place

To live the whole year through.

For summertime I’ll build my house

High in the maple tree

And watch the sunbeams filter through

My leafy canopy.

In winter, ’neath pine branches strong,

Safe from the snow and ice,

I’ll stay quite warm in my pine home

With friends who think it’s nice.

I guess that walls of glass and stone

Are fine, but as for me,

I’d rather live with birds and squirrels,

Within a friendly tree!

Illustrated by Nathan Jarvis