Slowly, silently, now the moon

Walks the night in her silver shoon;

This way, and that, she peers, and sees

Silver fruit upon silver trees;

One by one the casements catch

Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;

Couched in his kennel, like a dog;

From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep

Of doves in silver feathered sleep

A harvest mouse goes scampering by,

With silver claws, and silver eye;

And moveless fish in the water gleam,

By silver reeds in a silver stream.

Walter de la Mare (1873 - 1956) was an English poet, short-story writer and novelist. He is best remembered for his works for children and his poem 'The Listeners. He possessed a child-like richness of imagination which influenced all his writings.

1. shoon: (old word that is no longer used) plural of shoe
2. cote: a shelter for domestic birds and animals, especially pigeons
3. scampering: running with quick short steps