Classic Poem

I NEVER dared to look away
While they were tuning so,
For fear the Curtain might go up,
— And I not see it go! —
Then all at once, it all went Dark; —
To make you hold your breath and hark,
— Oh, hold your breath and hark!

Excepting where the Curtain was,
It stayed as black as night;
And that kept still one minute more,
All edged across with light: —
Then Up — and Up —
And Oh, so soon,
It was like all Inside the Moon,
— Yes, sitting in the Moon!

And Oh, how Beautiful they were! —
And could we see them near? —
And Oh, how brave at everything!
But it was somehow queer
To see that smiling way they had:
They smiled so much, but not all glad;
— No, not so always glad.

I wish we couldn't go away;
I wish it would begin
All over, now, and never end;
I wish we were Locked In!
Oh, can't we see it all again?
To-morrow! — Sunday! Monday? When?
— Ah, when, when?