For good luck

L. Lehmann

Little Kings and Queens of the May,

Listen to me!

If you want to be

Every one of you very good

In that beautiful, beautiful, beautiful wood,

Where the little birds' heads get so turned with delight,

That some of them sing all night:

Whatever you pluck,

Leave some for good luck;

Picked from the stalk, or pulled up by the root,

From overhead, or from underfoot,

Water-wonders of pond or brook;

Wherever you look,

And whatever you find --

Leave something behind:

Some for the Naïads,

Some for the Dryads,

And a bit for the Nixies, and the Pixies.