Robert William Service

Here you will find the Poem The Woman At The Gate of poet Robert William Service

The Woman At The Gate

"Where is your little boy to-day?"
 I asked her at the gate.
"I used to see him at his play,
 And often I would wait:
He was so beautiful, so bright,
 I watched him with delight.

"He had a tiny motor-car
 And it was painted red;
He wound it up; it ran so far,
 So merrily it sped.
I think he told me that it was
 A gift from Santa Claus."

The woman said: "It ran so far
 He followed it with joy.
Then came a real motor-car,--
 He sought to save his toy . . .
My little boy is far away
 Where angel children play.

"His father perished in the War;
 Now I am all alone,
And death is all I'm longing for . . ."
 So said with face of stone
That woman. "Curse their crazy cars
 And cruel wars!"