Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DAY DREAMS, OR TEN YEARS OLD, by MARGARET JOHNSON (19TH CENTURY)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DAY DREAMS, OR TEN YEARS OLD, by                    
First Line: I measured myself by the wall in the garden
Last Line: When, when will they bring all I dream of to me?
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


I MEASURED myself by the wall in the garden;
The hollyhocks blossomed far over my head.
Oh, when I can touch with the tips of my fingers
The highest green bud, with its lining of red,

I shall not be a child any more, but a woman.
Dear hollyhock blossoms, how glad I shall be!
I wish they would hurry -- the years that are coming,
And bring the bright days that I dream of to me!

Oh, when I am grown, I shall know all my lessons,
There's so much to learn when one's only just ten! --
I shall be very rich, very handsome, and stately,
And good, too, -- of course, -- 'twill be easier then!

There'll be many to love me, and nothing to vex me,
No knots in my sewing; no crusts to my bread.
My days will go by like the days in a story,
The sweetest and gladdest that ever was read.

And then I shall come out some day to the garden
(For this little corner must always be mine);
I shall wear a white gown all embroidered with silver,
That trails in the grass with a rustle and shine.

And, meeting some child here at play in the sunshine,
With gracious hands laid on her head, I shall say,
"I measured myself by these hollyhock blossoms
When I was no taller than you, dear, one day!"

She will smile in my face as I stoop low to kiss her,
And ---- Hark! they are calling me in to my tea!
O blossoms, I wish that the slow years would hurry!
When, when will they bring all I dream of to me?





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