| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1513. Proem |
| | | By Oliver Herford |
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| IF this little world to-night | |
| Suddenly should fall through space | |
| In a hissing, headlong flight, | |
| Shrivelling from off its face, | |
| As it falls into the sun, | 5 |
| In an instant every trace | |
| Of the little crawling things— | |
| Ants, philosophers, and lice, | |
| Cattle, cockroaches, and kings, | |
| Beggars, millionaires, and mice, | 10 |
| Men and maggots,—all as one | |
| As it falls into the sun,— | |
| Who can say but at the same | |
| Instant from some planet far | |
| A child may watch us and exclaim: | 15 |
| “See the pretty shooting star!” | |
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