A little porch with roof and sides Cobwebbed by overhanging leaves, Led into that old woman's house; The lattice windows almost blind From heavy, leafy brows. 'Each time we see a shooting-star, A child is born on earth,' she said; 'Six stars were mine, six children born, But all my little chicks are dead.' Eyes budded like a cat's by day, They only showed sufficient light To keep her little house all clean -- And flowered full large at night. For well it pleased that poor old soul To see the stars give children birth, Sitting, inside her porch, alone; Counting those babes, if any came, And thinking of her own. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PLACE OF PEACE by EDWIN MARKHAM A POISON TREE, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE GREEK SONG: 1. THE STORM OF DELPHI by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS DESTINY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH REUNITED LOVE by RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE AN UNWRITTEN TRAGEDY by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH; LAST POEM, ROME, MAY, 1861 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |