Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

By Jane Taylor 1783–1824 Jane Taylor

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,

When he nothing shines upon,

Then you show your little light,

Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark

Thanks you for your tiny spark,

How could he see where to go,

If you did not twinkle so?

In the dark blue sky you keep,

Often through my curtains peep

For you never shut your eye,

Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark

Lights the traveler in the dark,

Though I know not what you are,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Source: The Golden Book of Poetry (1947)

Biography

British engraver, poet, and novelist Jane Taylor was born in London to Ann Martin Taylor and Isaac Taylor, an engraver, painter, and minister. Taylor frequently collaborated with her sister Ann, and the two were some of the earliest known children’s poets. A few of their poems, including “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” (first published as “The Star”), later became nursery rhymes. The pair’s publications include Original Poems . . .

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