Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE INVADERS, by DOUGLAS MALLOCH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE INVADERS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Through dim mysterious, darkened halls
Last Line: You cannot keep the children out.
Subject(s): Children; Family Life; Childhood; Relatives


Through dim, mysterious, darkened halls
Their shadows creep along the walls;
Their creaking footsteps on the stair
Give warning they are everywhere;
No barrier can long endure,
No latch is safe, no door secure;
However you may try to hide,
They'll search and find you, far and wide,
And burst upon you with a shout --
You cannot keep the children out.

Put up the book, lay down the pen:
The young invaders come again
To storm your study, climb your knee,
However busy you may be,
However busy think you are --
The young invaders from afar
Have other things for you to do
That really are important, too,
Some fun you ought to be about --
You cannot keep the children out.

And if it be a door you close,
That slowly opens to a nose,
And then an eye, and then a head,
And then a child, as I have said --
Or if it be your heart you try
To shut with little children by,
Yes, if you try to shut its door,
Love laughs at locksmiths evermore,
And children's love the most, no doubt --
You cannot keep the children out.

Though other men we learn to hate,
Shut in our soul, and lock our gate,
Before the children's merry call
The walls of Jericho shall fall.
Though heaven may seem shut to us,
Perhaps we shall attain it thus:
Perhaps a baby's lisping pray'r
Shall swing the portals for us there,
And God forgive our hate and doubt --
You cannot keep the children out.





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