Edna St. Vincent Millay

“ THE BALLAD OF THE HARP-WEAVER
"Son," said my mother,
⁠When I was knee-high,
"You've need of clothes to cover you,
⁠And not a rag have I.
"There's nothing in the house
⁠To make a boy breeches,
Nor shears to cut a cloth with
⁠Nor thread to take stitches. ”

“ Oh, but we were happy
⁠For half an hour's time!
But there was I, a great boy,
⁠And what would folks say
To hear my mother singing me
⁠To sleep all day,
⁠In such a daft way?
Men say the winter
⁠Was bad that year ”