Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume I. Of Home: of Friendship. 1904. | | | | Poems of Home: I. About Children | | The Happy Hour | | Mary Frances Butts (1890–1937) |
| | | THE BUSY day is over, | |
| The household work is done; | |
| The cares that fret the morning | |
| Have faded with the sun; | |
| And in the tender twilight, | 5 |
| I sit in happy rest, | |
| With my precious rosy baby | |
| Asleep upon my breast. | |
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| White lids with silken fringes | |
| Shut out the waning light; | 10 |
| A little hand close folded, | |
| Holds mamma’s fingers tight; | |
| And in their soft white wrappings, | |
| At last in perfect rest, | |
| Two dainty feet are cuddled, | 15 |
| Like birdies in a nest. | |
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| All hopes and loves unworthy | |
| Fade out at this sweet hour; | |
| All pure and noble longings | |
| Renew their holy power; | 20 |
| For Christ, who in the Virgin | |
| Our motherhood has blest, | |
| Is near to every woman | |
| With a baby on her breast. | | | | |
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