When my eyes I once again
Open, and see all things plain:
High bare walls, great bare floor;
Great big knobs on drawer and door;
Great big people perched on chairs,
Stitching tucks and mending tears,
Each a hill that I could climb,
And talking nonsense all the time-
O dear me,

That I could be

A sailor on the rain-pool sea,

A climber in the clover tree,

And just come back, a sleepy-head,
Late at night to go to bed.

GARDEN DAYS

W

NIGHT AND DAY

WHEN the golden day is done,
Through the closing portal,

Child and garden, flower and sun,
Vanish all things mortal.

As the blinding shadows fall
As the rays diminish,
Under evening's cloak, they all

Roll away and vanish.

Garden darkened, daisy shut,
Child in bed, they slumber-
Glow-worm in the highway rut,
Mice among the lumber.

In the darkness houses shine,
Parents move with candles;

Till on all, the night divine

Turns the bedroom handles.

Till at last the day begins

In the east a-breaking,
In the hedges and the whins

Sleeping birds a-waking.

In the darkness shapes of things,
Houses, trees and hedges,
Clearer grow; and sparrow's wings
Beat on window ledges.

These shall wake the yawning maid;
She the door shall open-
Finding dew on garden glade
And the morning broken.

There my garden grows again
Green and rosy painted,
As at eve behind the pane
From my eyes it fainted.

Just as it was shut away,
Toy-like, in the even,
Here I see it glow with day
Under glowing heaven.

Every path and every plot,
Every bush of roses,
Every blue forget-me-not

Where the dew reposes,

"Up!" they cry, "the day is come

On the smiling valleys:

We have beat the morning drum;
Playmate, join your allies!"