Robert Louis Stevenson

A Child's Garden of Verses. Garden Days. 1. 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 hallway rut,
    Mice among the lumber.

In the darkness houses shine,
    Parents move the 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 blush 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!"