| Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869–1935). Collected Poems. 1921. |
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| V. The Town Down the River |
| 7. Lingard and the Stars |
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| THE TABLE hurled itself, to our surprise, | |
| At Lingard, and anon rapped eagerly: | |
| “When earth is cold and there is no more sea, | |
| There will be what was Lingard. Otherwise, | |
| Why lure the race to ruin through the skies? | 5 |
| And why have Leffingwell, or Calverly?”— | |
| “I wish the ghost would give his name,” said he; | |
| And searching gratitude was in his eyes. | |
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| He stood then by the window for a time, | |
| And only after the last midnight chime | 10 |
| Smote the day dead did he say anything: | |
| “Come out, my little one, the stars are bright; | |
| Come out, you lælaps, and inhale the night.” | |
| And so he went away with Clavering. | |
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