Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume I. Of Home: of Friendship. 1904. | | | | Poems of Home: II. For Children | | The Shadows | | Frank Dempster Sherman (1860–1916) |
| | | ALL up and down in shadow-town | |
| The shadow children go; | |
| In every street you ’re sure to meet | |
| Them running to and fro. | |
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| They move around without a sound, | 5 |
| They play at hide-and-seek, | |
| But no one yet that I have met | |
| Has ever heard them speak. | |
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| Beneath the tree you often see | |
| Them dancing in and out, | 10 |
| And in the sun there ’s always one | |
| To follow you about. | |
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| Go where you will, he follows still, | |
| Or sometimes runs before, | |
| And, home at last, you ’ll find him fast | 15 |
| Beside you at the door. | |
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| A faithful friend is he to lend | |
| His presence everywhere; | |
| Blow out the light—to bed at night— | |
| Your shadow-mate is there! | 20 |
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| Then he will call the shadows all | |
| Into your room to leap, | |
| And such a pack! they make it black, | |
| And fill your eyes with sleep! | | | | |
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