Poetry of Kansas

When The House Keeps In Order
All Day.

When the house keeps in order all day,
No chairs overturned on the floor,
No rocking horse left in the way,
No wagon obstructing the door;
No fragments of cookie or cake,
No traces of frolicsome play,
The heart strings of Motherhood break
When the house keeps in order all day.
 
When the house keeps in order all day,
No homely rag doll left around,
No pictures in scattered array,
No toys on the floor to be found,
No babyhood bruises and aches
For Papa to frolic away;
What wonder a father's heart breaks,
When the house keeps in order all day.
 
When the house keeps in order all day,
The soul has a right to lament,
Grief then holds legitimate sway,
And tears in compassion are sent.
But if in Elysian love
Our lost ones are only away,
Then, Heart, there is solace above,
When the house keeps in order all day.

__Harry Edward Mills.

 

Select Sunflowers
Harry Edward Mills
(Fort Scott: Sunflower Press. 1901)
Pages 34-35

 
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