A TROOP of babes in Summer Land, At heaven's gate -- the children's gate: One lifts the latch with rosy hand, Then turns and, dimpling, asks her mate, -- "What was the last thing that you saw?" "I lay and watched the dawn begin, And suddenly, through the thatch of straw, A great, clear morning star laughed in." "And you?" "A floating thistle-down, Against June sky and cloud-wings white." "And you?" "A falling blow, a frown -- It frights me yet; oh, clasp me tight!" "And you?" "A face through tears that smiled" -- The trembling lips could speak no more; The blue eyes swam; the lonely child Was homesick even at heaven's door. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WORN WEDDING-RING by WILLIAM COX BENNETT THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB by GEORGE GORDON BYRON GLOIRE DE DIJON by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE THE ART OF PRESERVING HEALTH: BOOK 4. THE PASSIONS by JOHN ARMSTRONG SIR RUPERT THE FEARLESS; A LEGEND OF GERMANY by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM FIDELIA ARGUING WITH HER SELF ON THE DIFFICULTY FINDING TRUE RELIGION by JANE BARKER LORD EXMOUTH'S VICTORY AT ALGIERS, 1816 by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |