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.

Tameless but gentle,
Wondering yet wise,
They stared from their silver-lashed
Sea-blue eyes.

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!