Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SHOOTING-STARS by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES

Poet Analysis

First Line: A LITTLE PORCH WITH ROOF AND SIDES
Last Line: AND THINKING OF HER OWN.
Subject(s): STARS;

A little porch with roof and sides
Cobwebbed by overhanging leaves,
Led into that old woman's house;
The lattice windows almost blind
From heavy, leafy brows.

'Each time we see a shooting-star,
A child is born on earth,' she said;
'Six stars were mine, six children born,
But all my little chicks are dead.'

Eyes budded like a cat's by day,
They only showed sufficient light
To keep her little house all clean --
And flowered full large at night.

For well it pleased that poor old soul
To see the stars give children birth,
Sitting, inside her porch, alone;
Counting those babes, if any came,
And thinking of her own.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net