The Little Elf, A Singable Poem

Posted by: Sing Books with Emily on: March 30, 2010

In: Heartfelt Musings | Lyrics | Poetry | Sing Along Tracks | Singable Book Title | Singable Poem | Singable Poetry | Song History | Vocal Tracks
Comment!

“The Little Elf” is a charming 8 line, 2 stanza poem by John Kendrick Bangs.

John Kendrick Bangs in 1922

John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) was an American writer and humorist. The poem was written in the early 1900′s, published in “St. Nicholas Magazine.” Though prolific, Mr. Bangs was not considered a great poet. “The Little Elf,” however, giving life to a spunky character, has been frequently anthologized. I love the elf’s “I don’t have to explain myself to you” and “I am just right exactly the way I am” clear thinking and self-possession. You will find the poem in many collections of children’s poetry, including:

Childcraft, Volume 1, The Poems of Early Childhood (1954)
Edited by J. Morris Jones
(“The Little Elf” is printed and illustrated on p. 170)

A Child’s Book of Poems
Illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa
Various Authors
(“The Little Elf” is printed and illustrated on p. 24)

This sturdy little poem has delightfully been set to music by Ginger Sands, on her CD “The Gift of Make Believe.” Sands’ wonderful collection of children’s poetry set to music includes vocal and instrumental tracks for each poem. The vocals for “The Little Elf” are on Track 7. The instrumental sing-along is found on Track 17.

Hear musical clips or buy the tracks at many online music sellers, including Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Gift-of-Make-Believe/dp/B0019VU8QU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1267562676&sr=8-4

Brief biography of Bangs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kendrick_Bangs

A brief biography and links to works by John Kendrick Bangs, here: http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/john_kendrick_bangs

The Little Elf
Poem by John Kendrick Bangs
I MET a little Elf-man, once,
Down where the lilies blow.
I asked him why he was so small
And why he didn’t grow.

He slightly frowned, and with his eye
He looked me through and through.
“I ’m quite as big for me,” said he,
“As you are big for you.”

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=skinner&book=verse1&story=elfman

Recorded for the Wolf Folklore Project, hear a charming recording of a woman singing a tune for this song, here:
http://web.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/vaughanelfman1252.html

Find classroom activities for this poem, here:
http://edhelper.com/poetry/The_Little_Elf_by_John_Kendrick_Bangs.htm