Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO CHRISTINA AT NIGHTFALL, by FORD MADOX FORD Poet's Biography First Line: Little thing, ah, little mouse Last Line: Ah, sweet! Do you the like where I lie dead. Alternate Author Name(s): Hueffer, Ford Hermann; Hueffer, Ford Madox Subject(s): Children; Night; Childhood; Bedtime | ||||||||
LITTLE thing, ah, little mouse, Creeping through the twilit house, To watch within the shadow of my chair With large blue eyes; the firelight on your hair Doth glimmer gold and faint, And on your woollen gown That folds a-down From steadfast little face to square-set feet. Ah, sweet! ah, little one! so like a carven saint, With your unflinching eyes, unflinching face, Like a small angel, carved in a high place, Watching unmoved across a gabled town; When I am weak and old, And lose my grip, and crave my small reward Of tolerance and tenderness and ruth, The children of your dawning day shall hold The reins we drop and wield the judge's sword And your swift feet shall tread upon my heels, And I be Ancient Error, you New Truth, And I be crushed by your advancing wheels... Good-night! The fire is burning low, Put out the lamp; Lay down the weary little head Upon the small white bed. Up from the sea the night winds blow Across the hill across the marsh; Chill and harsh, harsh and damp, The night winds blow. But, while the slow hours go, I, who must fall before you, late shall wait and keep Watch and ward, Vigil and guard, Where you sleep. Ah, sweet! do you the like where I lie dead. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BREATH OF NIGHT by RANDALL JARRELL HOODED NIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS WORKING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT by DENIS JOHNSON POEM TO TAKE BACK THE NIGHT by JUNE JORDAN COOL DARK ODE by DONALD JUSTICE POEM TO BE READ AT 3 A.M by DONALD JUSTICE ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT by BOB KAUFMAN |
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