If This Little World To-Night

by Oliver Herford

　　If this little world to-night Suddenly should fall thro' 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!"