Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume I. Of Home: of Friendship. 1904. | | | | Poems of Home: II. For Children | | Good Night and Good Morning | | Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton (1809–1885) |
| | | A FAIR little girl sat under a tree | |
| Sewing as long as her eyes could see; | |
| Then smoothed her work and folded it right, | |
| And said, “Dear work, good night, good night!” | |
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| Such a number of rooks came over her head, | 5 |
| Crying, “Caw, caw!” on their way to bed, | |
| She said, as she watched their curious flight, | |
| “Little black things, good night, good night!” | |
| |
| The horses neighed, and the oxen lowed, | |
| The sheep’s “Bleat! bleat!” came over the road; | 10 |
| All seeming to say, with a quiet delight, | |
| “Good little girl, good night, good night!” | |
| |
| She did not say to the sun, “Good night!” | |
| Though she saw him there like a ball of light; | |
| For she knew he had God’s time to keep | 15 |
| All over the world and never could sleep. | |
| |
| The tall pink foxglove bowed his head; | |
| The violets courtesied, and went to bed; | |
| And good little Lucy tied up her hair, | |
| And said, on her knees, her favorite prayer. | 20 |
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| And, while on her pillow she softly lay, | |
| She knew nothing more till again it was day; | |
| And all things said to the beautiful sun, | |
| “Good morning, good morning! our work is begun.” | | | | |
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