BED IN SUMMERIn winter I get up at nightAnd dress by yellow candlelight.In summer, quite the other way,I have to go to bed by day.I have to go to bed and seeThe birds still hopping on the tree,Or hear the grown-up people′s feetStill going past me in the street.And does it not seem hard to you,When all the sky is clear and blue,And I should like so much to play,To have to go......

獻給愛麗森·坎寧安——您的孩子呈獻漫漫的長夜，您整夜未眠為了照顧不懂事的我；最溫暖的您的雙手領著我走過崎嶇不平的道路； 為了您曾讀過的那些故事書；為了您曾撫慰過的那些痛楚；為了您曾給予的憐愛、寬容，在那些悲喜的日子裡——我的再生之母，我的個妻子，我孩提時代的天使——收下吧，保姆，收下這本稚嫩的小書，那個原本柔弱的病小孩，如今已經長大！ 願上帝保佑，讀過此書的孩子都能找到一個愛他的保姆，每個閱讀過這些詩篇的孩子，無論在亮堂堂的爐火邊，還是在幼兒園裡，都能夠聽到同樣慈愛的聲音這聲音曾使我的童年充滿了歡欣！R.L.S.*To ALISON CUNNINGHAMFROM HER BOYFOR THE LONG NIGHTS YOU LAY AWAKEAND WATCHED FOR MY UNWORTHY SAKE:FOR YOUR MOST COMFORTABLE HANDTHAT LED ME ......