Welcoming Song

Dance upon silver, Dance upon gold,
We have a baby, one day old.

Dance on a peacock, dance on a pearl,
The baby’s a sister, because it’s a girl.

Dance upon velvent, dance upon silk,
It sleeps in its cradle and dreams about milk.

Dance upon butterflies, dance upon bells,
Its little curled hands are like little pink shells.

“Its name?” the wind asks in a whispery tounge.
But its name is a secret too dear to be sung.

by Margaret Mahy