Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HER LONESOMENESS, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HER LONESOMENESS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When little elizabeth whispers
Last Line: "way in the night, you know!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Love; Moon; Night; Bedtime


WHEN little Elizabeth whispers
Her morning-love to me,
Each word of the little lisper's,
As she clambers on my knee --
Hugs me and whispers, "Mommy,
Oh, I'm so glad it's day
And the night's all gone away!"
How it does thrill and awe me, --
"The night's all gone away!"

"Sometimes I wake, all listenin',"
She sighs, "and all's so still! --
The moon and the stars half-glistenin'
Over the window-sill: --
And I look where the gas's pale light
Is all turned down in the hall --
And you ain't here at all! --
And oh, how I wish it was daylight!
-- And you ain't here at all!

"And oh," she goes eerily whining
And laughing, too, as she speaks,
"If only the sun kept shining
For weeks and weeks and weeks! --
For the world's so dark, without you,
And the moon's turned down so low --
'Way in the night, you know, --
And I get so lonesome about you! --
'Way in the night, you know!"





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