1A Simple Child, dear brother Jim,
2That lightly draws its breath,
3And feels its life in every limb,
4What should it know of death?

5I met a little cottage Girl:
6She was eight years old, she said;
7Her hair was thick with many a curl
8That clustered round her head.

9She had a rustic, woodland air,
10And she was wildly clad:
11Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
12Her beauty made me glad.

13“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
14How many may you be?”
15“How many? Seven in all,” she said
16And wondering looked at me.

17“And where are they? I pray you tell.”
18She answered, “Seven are we;
19And two of us at Conway dwell,
20And two are gone to sea.

21“Two of us in the church-yard lie,
22My sister and my brother;
23And, in the church-yard cottage, I
24Dwell near them with my mother.”

25“You say that two at Conway dwell,
26And two are gone to sea,
27Yet ye are seven!— I pray you tell,
28Sweet Maid, how this may be.”

29Then did the little Maid reply,
30“Seven boys and girls are we;
31Two of us in the church-yard lie,
32Beneath the church-yard tree.”

33“You run above, my little Maid,
34Your limbs they are alive;
35If two are in the church-yard laid,
36Then ye are only five.”

37“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”
38The little Maid replied,
39“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door,
40And they are side by side.

41“My stockings there I often knit,
42My kerchief there I hem;
43And there upon the ground I sit,
44And sing a song to them.

45“And often after sun-set, Sir,
46When it is light and fair,
47I take my little porringer,
48And eat my supper there.

49“The first that died was sister Jane;
50In bed she moaning lay,
51Till God released her of her pain;
52And then she went away.

53“So in the church-yard she was laid;
54And, when the grass was dry,
55Together round her grave we played,
56My brother John and I.

57“And when the ground was white with snow,
58And I could run and slide,
59My brother John was forced to go,
60And he lies by her side.”

61“How many are you, then,” said I,
62“If they two are in heaven?”
63Quick was the little Maid’s reply,
64“O Master! we are seven.”

65“But they are dead; those two are dead!
66Their spirits are in heaven!”
67’Twas throwing words away; for still
68The little Maid would have her will,
69And said, “Nay, we are seven!”
70