Robert Louis Stevenson


There must have been a copy of A Child's Garden of Verses in our house in Blantyre because some of the poems from the book are familiar, and we certainly didn't have a copy during my childhood in Australia.  Perhaps this one has stuck most firmly in my memory and I have always associated the name Leery with the occupation of lamplighter.  Looking at the poem now I wonder how I related to it in any way.  It doesn't touch me on any level.


THE LAMPLIGHTER

My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky;
It’s time to take the window to see Leerie going by;
For every night at teatime and before you take your seat,
With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.

Now Tom would be a driver and Maria go to sea,
And my papa’s a banker and as rich as he can be;
But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I’m to do,
Oh Leerie, I’ll go round at night and light the lamps with you!

For we are very lucky, with a lamp before the door,
And Leerie stops to light it as he lights so many more;
And O! before you hurry by with ladder and with light,
O Leerie, see a little child and nod to him tonight!


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