The Lions (Marching Plays for Nursery and Kindergarten.)
Reading edition
Heads drooped, eyes closed, hands on knees.
March forward slowly in line, diverging.
March down to the end of the room, heads held high. Sing with emphasis.
(Teacher sings.)
The lions shun the sun! All day, asleep, Deep in the thicket’s shade The lions keep.
(Teacher sings.)
’Tis in the dark midnights The lions wake; All silent and alone Their way they take.
(Teacher sings.)
Awake, at night they seek The river-shore;
(Children join in.)
And all the desert vast Shakes with their roar.
Turn, sing, right arms lifted like imperious paws.
March around the room rapidly, tossing heads, pursuing teacher, or mother, who “falls in” at the right point, keeping in advance.
March around the room again. “Take the prey” by overtaking and surrounding the teacher, or mother.
(Children sing.)
The lions, they are kings! They make the law! Yea, every creature fears The lion’s paw!
(Teacher sings.)
The lions never tire! With tossing mane They bound along The moonlit plain.
(Children sing.)
They never, never tire! They speed away And follow, follow on, And take the prey!
Grey Burleson.