Five Little Japanese Songs

     O little Yo San
     With your face of tan,
And your dear little eyes peeping over your fan,
     What a roguish way,
     On this golden day,
You have found with my heart, with my poor heart to play

     In the cherry-boughs sing
     All the birds of Spring,
And the little brooks tinkle as they ripple and ring ;
     But match, if you can,
     In the land of Japan,
The music of the laughter of my little Yo San !

     When almond-blossoms fall
     By the creamy garden wall,
And the cherry-blooms float down like flakes of snow,
     There's a road I always take,
     When the day begins to break-
'Tis the road that leads along to Tokio!

     Ah ! the wonder of it all
     When the almond-blossoms fall-
'Tis the road that leads to little, dear Yo San.
     In the shining morns of Spring
     How my heart begins to sing,
As I tread the dearest road in all Japan !

Little wonder
You can plunder
My poor heart of all its love !
Come and pilfer
What you will, for
I am willing, little dove !

Rob me always-
Not in small ways,
But take all the love you can :-
All my heart, love,
Not a part, love,
Ah, my dearest, dear Yo San !

I sometimes wonder where you stole
The dimple in your chin,
That tiny place upon your face
Where my heart tumbles in !

I sometimes wonder from what bird
You robbed your rippling song ;
You are a thief, 'tis my belief,
Yet, dear, you did no wrong!

There are maidens that I know
In the town of Tokio,
Little geisha girls and girls of high degree;
There are maidens in Japan
Who can conquer any man-
But you, my dear, are good enough for me !

O the almond-blossoms white
Make me tremble with delight,
But their perfume is no sweeter than your breath.
There is nothing like your kiss,
Little Dresden-china miss,
And I'll love you, love you, love you until death !