Famous Children Poem

"Vespers" was the first poem published by Alan Alexander Milne. Christopher Robin Milne, A.A. Milne’s son, was the inspiration for this poem, and it showcases him saying his prayers before going to bed.

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I also grew up with A.A. Milne and Childcraft books. "Vespers" is a special kind of magic that happens only a very few times in a person's life. When I was [or when we were] very young, the...

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Famous Poem

Vespers

A. A. Milne By more A. A. Milne

Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.

God bless Mummy. I know that's right.
Wasn't it fun in the bath to-night?
The cold's so cold, and the hot's so hot.
Oh! God bless Daddy - I quite forgot.

If I open my fingers a little bit more,
I can see Nanny's dressing-gown on the door.
It's a beautiful blue, but it hasn't a hood.
Oh! God bless Nanny and make her good.

Mine has a hood, and I lie in bed,
And pull the hood right over my head,
And I shut my eyes, and I curl up small,
And nobody knows that I'm there at all.

Oh! Thank you, God, for a lovely day.
And what was the other I had to say?
I said "Bless Daddy," so what can it be?
Oh! Now I remember it. God bless Me.

Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • Jen Haley by Jen Haley
  • 8 months ago

I had a LP of the AA Milne poems set to music, at least 60 years ago. would love to share the melodies with my granddaughters. If anyone knows the title and production (British) please leave word. I remember melodies for Halfway..., Buckingham Palace, Vespers, part of Wee little dormouse. thanks

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  • Wendy Aldred by Wendy Aldred
  • 1 year ago

I am 72 and I've known this poem since I was 5 years old. After school, once a week, a small group of us would walk along to lessons with a local Speech and Drama teacher, a few streets away. Mums would take it in turn to take us.
We learnt mostly A.A.Milne poems and learnt to speak with a "posh" accent. I can still recite Vespers. It was my favourite poem.

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  • Mothermarci by Mothermarci
  • 3 years ago

I am a 68-year-old great grandmother. As I was reciting this favorite bedtime poem to my 14th grandchild, Jeremiah, I thought to google it for fun. My mom used to recite this and several other Christopher Robin poems to me and my brother, who is a year older, every night before the lullaby song. When I had my 9 children, I did the same and when they had the grands, I presented each with the A.A. Milne books "When We Were Very Young" and "Now We Are Six"! Many such wonderful poems to remember and pass along through generations.

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  • Jim Boxley by Jim Boxley
  • 1 year ago

I also grew up with A.A. Milne and Childcraft books. "Vespers" is a special kind of magic that happens only a very few times in a person's life. When I was [or when we were] very young, the line, "...hush, hush, whisper, who dares? Christopher Robin is saying his prayers..." would fill my mind and my heart with my mom's voice, her love for me as she read, and the genius in those words. And though she's been gone for many years, writing this now I can feel her fill the room and my heart again. I feel her with me right now, just as I did then. Thank You, A.A. Milne. Love ya, Mom...

  • Carolyn Bailey by Carolyn Bailey
  • 4 years ago

I just had my 64th birthday, and I can still quote a good bit of this poem. When I was a young child in elementary school, we put our heads down on our desks for a few minutes after lunch each day, during which time our teacher quietly read to us. She read this poem to us almost every day. I can still hear her sweet voice reading it.

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  • Lesley Murray by Lesley Murray
  • 6 years ago

This is the first song my mother ever taught me. It has stayed with me for my entire life and was one of the last songs we sang together just before she passed.

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  • David Dempsey by David Dempsey
  • 6 years ago

While watching "Goodbye Christopher Robin," mention was made of this poem. Suddenly the lines of this poem popped into my head. It had been 54 years since I first learned this poem in Kindergarten class. It was the first of many poems I learned by heart. When I checked the words, those times and notebook came back to me.

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  • Claudia Jane by Claudia Jane
  • 6 years ago

This was my lullaby all through my childhood. My mum used to sing it the old fashioned way. At 37 years old, I still sing it in my head to get to sleep. Such fond memories. A legend of an author. Thank you so much for making my childhood so special.

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  • Kristin by Kristin
  • 6 years ago

What is the old-fashioned way to this song?
Thank you!

  • Jim Silsby by Jim Silsby
  • 6 years ago

When I was a very little boy, I used to stay round my Nana's house fairly regularly. Every time I did, she would tuck me up in bed and sing this poem to me in her beautiful, soothing voice. Whenever I read this poem now, as a grown adult, I'm immediately transported back to her house, saying my own prayers as a little boy, and I feel safe and loved.

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  • Sarah Wilson by Sarah Wilson
  • 5 years ago

Me too! Although we weren't religious people, my Mamma often sang this to me.

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