Cross Roads

LI'L EMPTY CLOSET

     There's a li'l empty closet in a li'l empty room,
        Where th' shadows lie like dust upon th' floor;
     It uster be HIS closet not s' very long ago—
        That's why I don't go near it any more.
     Every li'l hook is empty, 'ceptin' one, an' from it
           hangs
        (Th' whitest li'l ghost that ever grew
     In a heart that's near ter breakin' with it's agony o'
           grief! )
        An empty flannel nightie piped with blue.

     Jus' a li'l flannel nightie that was shrunken in th'
           wash,
        In spots th' blue has ran inter th' white;
     But I've seen him in it, sleepy, when I tucked th'
           covers in,
        An' kissed him, soft, an took away th' light.
     Jus' a li'l flannel nightie, hangin' empty on a hook,
        As if it was ashamed—or in disgrace—
     Jus' a li'l flannel nightie an' it ain't no use no more,
        But I couldn't bear t' take it from its place!

     Jus' a li'l empty closet in a li'l empty room,
        Where th' shadows lie like dust upon th' floor—
     It uster be his closet, where I'd put his clothes away,
        That's why I hate ter go there any more.
     But I've left his li'l nightie hangin' on a single hook,
        I sorter had ter leave it there, I guess;
     Ah, that li'l empty closet in that li'l empty room
        Is crowded—crowded ful o' loneliness!