Just this one day in all the yearLet all be one, let all be dear;Wife, husband, child in fond embrace,And thrust the phantom from its place.No bitter words, no frowning brow,Disturb the Christmas festal, nowThe skeleton's behind the door.Nor let the child, with looks askance,Find out its sad inheritanceFrom souls that held no happinessOf home, where love is seldom guest;But in his coming years retainThis one sweet night that had no pain;The skeleton's behind the door.In vain you raise the wassail bowl,And pledge your passion, soul to soulYou hear the sweet bells ring in rhyme,You wreathe the room for Christmas-timeIn vain. The solemn silence falls,The death-watch ticks within the walls;The skeleton taps on the door.Then let him back into his place,Let us sit out the old disgrace;Nor seek the phantom now to layThat haunted us through every day;For plainer is the ghost; uselessIs this pretence of happiness;The skeleton taps on the door.
About the author
Dora Sigerson Shorter
288 works
About the poet
Dora Sigerson (1866–1918) was an Irish poet, who after her marriage in 1895 wrote under the name Dora Sigerson Shorter. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of George Sigerson, a surgeon and writer, and Hester (née Varian) also a writer. She was a major figure of the Irish Literary revival, publishing many collections of poetry from 1893. Her friends included Katharine Tynan, a noted Irish-born poet and author.
Her husband was Clement King Shorter, an English journalist and literary critic. They lived together in London, until her death.
and writer, and Hester (née Varian) also a writer. She was a major figure of the Irish Literary rev
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