I was working in the shop on Christmas presents and then thought to
look for a bit of doggerel to attach to the thing itself, to express a
certain feeling.

A happy thought came to me as I remembered (or, half remembered) this
poem, which I then dutifully looked up.

And I was so taken with it, again, that I thought that I would share
it with my imaginary friends.

Who, though they know it, as did I, might not remember it, as I did
not.




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 occupations,
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 into 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!




Lordy, having children to please at Christmas is such a great gift.







Tom Watson - WoodDorker
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)

Thank You Tom, I too had forgotten. I spent last night out in my cold
shop putting a small set of drums together for my boy. When I came in,
he was behind the door waiting for me to come in and have our nightly
GITTY TIME !! I chased him through the halls and rolled him on the
floor tickling every rib he had. Later on in the night, His Mommy asked
him what he wanted from Santa. "Drums, Mommy." What a coincidence?

Thanks again Tom, And Thank You Lord, for the little short members of
the family.
One of your newer imaginary friends Tom,
Tom Ford

Tom Watson wrote:
SNIP

One of my all time favorites, along with "Stopping by Woods..."

~Mark.