Seein’ Things

Seein’ Things

by Eugene Field
I ain’t afraid of snakes, or toads, or bugs, or worms, or mice,
An’ things that girls are scared of I think are awful nice!
I’m pretty brave, I guess; an’ yet I hate to go to bed,
For, when I’m tucked up warm an’ snug an’ when my prayers are said,
Mother tells me “Happy dreams!” and takes away the light,
An’ leaves me lying all alone an’ seein’ things at night!

Sometimes they’re in the corner, sometimes they’re by the door,
Sometimes they’re all a-standin’ in the middle of the floor;
Sometimes they are a-sittin’ down, sometimes they’re walkin’ round
So softly an’ so creepylike they never make a sound!
Sometimes they are as black as ink, an’ other times they’re white—
But the color ain’t no difference when you see things at night!

Once, when I licked a feller that had just moved on our street,
An’ father sent me up to bed without a bite to eat,
I woke up in the dark an’ saw things standin’ in a row,
A-lookin’ at me cross-eyed an’ pointin’ at me—so!
Oh, my! I was so scared that time I never slept a mite—
It’s almost always when I’m bad I see things at night!

Lucky thing I ain’t a girl, or I’d be scared to death!
Since I’m a boy, I duck my head an’ hold my breath;
An’ I am, oh! so sorry I’m a naughty boy, an’ then
I promise to be better an’ I say my prayers again!
Gran’ma tells me that’s the only way to make it right
When a feller has been wicked an’ sees things at night!

An’ so, when other naughty boys would coax me into sin,
I try to squish the Tempter’s voice that urges me within;
An’ when there’s pie for supper, or cakes that’s big an’ nice,
I want to—but I do not pass my plate for them things twice!
No, rather let Starvation wipe me slowly out o’ sight
Than I should keep a-livin’ on an’ seein’ things at night!

(This poem has been adapted for easy reading.)