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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE TREASURE OF THE WISE MAN by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: O THE NIGHT WAS DARK AND THE NIGHT WAS LATE
Last Line: WHEN THE ROBBERS CAME TO ROB HIM.
Subject(s): CRIME & CRIMINALS; NIGHT; TREASURES; BEDTIME;

O THE night was dark and the night was late,
And the robbers came to rob him;
And they picked the locks of his palace-gate,
The robbers that came to rob him --
They picked the locks of his palace-gate,
Seized his jewels and gems of state,
His coffers of gold and his priceless plate, --
The robbers that came to rob him.

But loud he laughed he in the morning red! --
For of what had the robbers robbed him? --
Ho! hidden safe, as he slept in bed,
When the robbers came to rob him, --
They robbed him not of a golden shred
Of the childish dreams in his wise old head --
"And they're welcome to all things else," he said,
When the robbers came to rob him.



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