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First Line: If this little world tonight
Last Line: "see the pretty shooting star!"
Variant Title(s): Proem


IF this little world to-night
Suddenly should fall through space
In a hissing, headlong flight,
Shrivelling from off its face,
As it falls into the sun,
In an instant every trace
Of the little crawling things --
Ants, philosophers, and lice,
Cattle, cockroaches, and kings,
Beggars, millionaires, and mice,
Men and maggots, -- all as one
As it falls into the sun, --
Who can say but at the same
Instant from some planet far
A child may watch us and exclaim:
"See the pretty shooting star!"





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