“The Skipping Rope” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a charming, lighthearted poem that captures the innocence and joy of childhood. Tennyson, known for his deeply philosophical and often melancholic works, here turns his attention to a simple, everyday scene – a child skipping with a rope. The poem celebrates the carefree spirit of youth, the rhythmic motion of play, and the fleeting nature of childhood. It serves as a reminder that amidst life’s challenges, there are moments of pure, unburdened happiness, reflecting Tennyson’s appreciation for the small, joyful moments in life.
The Skipping Rope by Alfred Lord Tennyson
SURE never yet was antelope
Could skip so lightly by.
Stand off, or else my skipping-rope
Will hit you in the eye.
How lightly Whirls the skipping-rope !
How fairy-like you fly !
Could skip so lightly by.
Stand off, or else my skipping-rope
Will hit you in the eye.
How lightly Whirls the skipping-rope !
How fairy-like you fly !
Go, get you gone, you muse and mope —
I hate that silly sigh.
Nay, dearest, teach me how to hope,
Or tell me how to die.
There, take it, take my skipping-rope,
And hang yourself thereby.
I hate that silly sigh.
Nay, dearest, teach me how to hope,
Or tell me how to die.
There, take it, take my skipping-rope,
And hang yourself thereby.