THE CHILDREN'S
HOUR
BETWEEN THE DARK AND
THE DAYLIGHT,
WHEN THE NIGHT IS BEGINNING TO
LOWER,
COMES A PAUSE IN THE DAYS
OCCUPATIONS,
THAT IS KNOWN AS THE CHILDREN'S
HOUR.
I HEAR IN THE CHAMBER ABOVE
ME
THE PATTER OF LITTLE FEET,
THE SOUND OF
A DOOR THAT IS OPENED,
AND VOICES SOFT AND
SWEET.
FROM MY STUDY I SEE IN THE
LAMPLIGHT,
DESCENDING THE BROAD HALL
STAIR,
GRAVE ALICE,AND LUAGHING
ALLEGRA,
AND EDITH WITH GOLDEN HAIR.
A
WHISPER, AND THEN A SILENCE:
YET I KNOW BY
THEIR MARRY EYES
THEY ARE PLOTTING AND
PLANNING TOGETHER
TO TAKE ME BY
SURPRISE.
A SUDDEN RUSH FROM THE
STAIRWAY,
A SUDDEN RAID FROM THE HALL!
BY
THREE DOORS LEFT UNGUARDED
THEY ENTER MY
CASTLE WALL!
THEY CLIMB UP TO MY
TURRET
O'ER THE ARMS AND BACK OF MY
CHAIR;
IF I TRY TO ESCAPE, THEY SURROUND
ME;
THEY SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE.
THEY
ALMOST DEVOUR ME WITH KISSES,
THEIR ARMS ABOUT
ME ENTWINE,
TILL I THINK OF THE BISHOP OF
BINGEN
IN HIS MOUSE-TOWER ON THE
RHINE!
DO YOU THINK, O BLUE-EYED
BANDITTI,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE SCALED THE
WALL,
SUCH AN OLD MUSTACHE AS I AM
IS NOT A
MATCH FOR YOU ALL!
I HAVE YOU FAST IN MY
FORTRESS,
AND WILL NOT LET YOU DEPART,
BUT
PUT YOU DOWN INTO THE DUNGEON
IN THE ROUND
TOWER OF MY HEART.
AND THERE I WILL KEEP
YOU FOREVER,
YES,FOREVER AND A DAY,
TILL
THE WALLS SHALL CRUMBLE TO RUIN,
AND MOULDER
IN DUST AWAY!
HENRY WADSWORHT
LONGFELLOW