Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917.
The Naked StrangerCarl Sandburg
I
Knit, stitch, and hemstitch:
Sheets, bags, towels, these are the offerings.
When he is older, or she is a big girl,
There may be flowers or ribbons or money
For birthday offerings. Now, however,
We must remember it is a naked stranger
Coming to us; and the sheath of the arrival
Is so soft we must be ready, and soft too.
It would be easy to pick a lucky star for this baby
If a choice of two stars lay before our eyes—
One a pearl-gold star and one pearl-silver—
And the offer of a chance to pick a lucky star.
When the high hour comes
Let there be a light flurry of snow,
A little zigzag of white spots
Against the gray roofs.
The snow-born all understand this as a luck-wish.