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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - The Children's Hour

Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupation,
That is known as the children's hour. 

I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet. 

From my study I see in the lamplight,
Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair. 

A whisper and then a silence: 
Yet I know by their merry eyes,
They are plotting and planning together,
To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall! 

They climb up into my turret 
O'er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me,
They seem to be everywhere. 

They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all? 

I have you fast in my fortress
And will not let you depart,
But put you down in the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart. 

And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away! 

Added: on June 8th, 2007 at 9:52 AM | Viewed: 10964 times | Comments and analysis of The Children's Hour by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Comments (13)


The Children's Hour - Comments and Information

Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Art)
Poem: The Children's Hour
Volume: Birds Of Passage

Comment 13 of 13, added on October 6th, 2008 at 12:20 PM.

I had to memeorize this poem for a speech class in college and i was glancing over the other poems i had to choose from and just feel in love with this one. I remember trying to take my grandpa by surprise when i was a little kid. I will tell this to my children when i have them!!!

Heather from United States
Comment 12 of 13, added on February 16th, 2008 at 7:20 AM.

This morning my mother(92) told me she remembered part
of this poem as she was waking up this morning. Her
comment to me was memories are a wonderful thing.

Kathleen from United States
Comment 11 of 13, added on June 8th, 2007 at 9:52 AM.

I remember loving this poem in grade school, St. Timothy. Now as an adult it is the one poem that literally haunts me with it's beauty, a father's love for his three daughters. Depending on my emotions, this poem has the power to make me smile or bring me to tears. It's my favorite!

Joan from United States

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