History & Politics

Ii.--sweeping the Floor

by George MacDonald 1824–1905

From The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2

History & Politics

Sweep and sweep and sweep the floor,
Sweep the dust, pick up the pin;
Make it clean from fire to door,
Clean for father to come in!

Mother said that God goes sweeping,
Looking, sweeping with a broom,
All the time that we are sleeping,
For a shilling in the room:

Did he drop it out of glory,
Walking far above the birds?
Or did parson make the story
For the thinking afterwards?

If I were the swept-for shilling
I would hearken through the gloom;
Roll out fast, and fall down willing
Right before the sweeping broom!

MLA

MacDonald, George. “Ii.--sweeping the Floor.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/macdonald/280/.

Chicago

MacDonald, George. “Ii.--sweeping the Floor.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/macdonald/280/.

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