Living

The Umbrella Brigade

by Laura E. Richards 1850–1943

From In My Nursery (1890)

Living

"Pitter patter!" falls the rain
On the school-room window-pane.
Such a plashing! such a dashing!
Will it e'er be dry again?
Down the gutter rolls a flood,
And the crossing's deep in mud;
And the puddles! oh, the puddles
Are a sight to stir one's blood!

Chorus.

But let it rain
Tree-toads and frogs,
Muskets and pitchforks,
Kittens and dogs!
Dash away! plash away!
Who is afraid?
Here we go,
The Umbrella Brigade!

Pull the boots up to the knee!
Tie the hoods on merrily!
Such a hustling! such a jostling!
Out of breath with fun are we.
Clatter, clatter, down the street,
Greeting every one we meet,
With our laughing and our chaffing,
Which the laughing drops repeat.

Chorus.

So let it rain
Tree-toads and frogs,
Muskets and pitchforks,
Kittens and dogs!
Dash away! plash away!
Who is afraid?
Here we go,
The Umbrella Brigade!

MLA

Richards, Laura E. “The Umbrella Brigade.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/richards_l/131/.

Chicago

Richards, Laura E. “The Umbrella Brigade.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/richards_l/131/.

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