The Children's Hour - A poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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 May 21st, 2007 at 1:32 AM | Viewed: 6787 times | Comments and analysis of The Children's Hour by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Comments (12)

The Children's Hour - Comments and Information
Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poem: The Children's Hour Volume: Birds Of Passage Comment 12 of 12, 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 12, 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 Comment 10 of 12, added on May 21st, 2007 at 1:32 AM. I'm dismayed that I came here and found that whoever posted this well-known poem did not bother to PROOFREAD it. And I'm the 10th person to comment and no one noticed? The fourth line, folks? Here it reads: "That is know as the children's hour. " The line is: That is KNOWN as the children's hour." I stopped there, hope that was it. Impressive that the site uses "paraphrasis" but I'd suggest it is more helpful, and respectful to get the words right to start with. It's careless and doesn't show respect. If you're going to post someone's work on the net - or quote it, or cite it, or use it - learn to proofread. What a shame. sylvie More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Children's Hour, has received 12 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poem: The Children's Hour Volume: Birds Of Passage Last read: May 16 2008, 2:08PM Viewed 6787 times. Added on May 21st, 2007 at 1:32 AM.

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