RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL

I KNOW where’s the happiest Kingdom in all of the world I have seen, No bigger than Grandfather’s orchard, and all of it’s grassy and green, It has but a few dozen people, the happiest youngsters alive, ’Tis ruled by a Princess of seven, and one little soldier of five; There’s one little crown made of daisies and one little sword made of tin, And one little drum that goes rolling betimes with a terrible din; You’d think that a war was beginning by all of the noise that is made, When, really, it’s only the army declaring itself on parade. In all of the bounds of the Kingdom there isn’t a book or a chore; The reign of the Princess begins when the schoolday is over at four; Her castle with turrets and towers is right near a big apple tree. It isn’t a visible castle, but if you were there you could see; And if you should chance to be looking that way when the proud Princess comes, You’d see a bold soldier go marching and hear a fierce rattle of drums, You’d see loyal subjects and happy, with no thought of table or rule, You’d want to belong to the Kingdom—the Kingdom of Right-After-School! It’s really a well-behaved people—they put by their slates and their books And have little use for an army except as a matter of looks; But nobody dares say addition, division, subtraction—if you Should mention a one of these subjects the tin sword would run you right through! But you can say swinging or jumping or follow-my-leader, nor fear You break any law of the country—and if from your window you hear A chorus of voices or laughter, when evening grows twilit and cool, You’ll know ’tis the music they make in the Kingdom of Right-After-School! There’s not a sad heart in the Kingdom, nor ever or ever a tear, And all of the sorrows of schooldays are lost or forgotten in here; The make-believe fairies go singing with songs that are wondrously sweet; The green turf is flecked with white dresses and patters with fast-flying feet; It’s just between School’s-Out and Teatime—an hour or so of the day, And often I see them there crowning with daisies the Princess of Play; Then some one calls: “Supper-time, children!”—when evening grows twilit and cool. It fades from my sight till tomorrow—the Kingdom of Right-After-School!