The Play's the Thing

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?