Josephine Preston Peabody

Late

My Father brought somebody up,
  To show us all, asleep.
They came as softly up the stairs
  As you could creep.

They whispered in the doorway there,
  And looked at us awhile.
I had my eyes shut up; but I
  Could feel him smile.

I shut my eyes up close, and lay
  As still as I could keep;
Because I knew he wanted us
  To be asleep.