Early this morning,
About the break of day,
Hoofbeats came clashing
Along the narrow way-

And I looked from my window
And saw in the square
Four white unicorns
Stepping pair by pair.

Dappled and clouded,
So daintily they trod
On small hooves of ivory
Silver-shod.

The street was empty
And blind with dawn-
The shutters were fastened,
The bolts were drawn,

And sleepers half-rousing
Said with a sigh,
"There goes the milk,"
As the hooves went by.

Audrey Alexandra Brown