Halfway down the stairs
is a stair
where i sit.
there isn't any
other stair
quite like
it.
i'm not at the bottom,
i'm not at the top;
so this is the stair
where
I always
stop.
Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up
And it isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery,
It isn't in town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head.
It isn't really
Anywhere!
It's somewhere else
Instead!
Halfway Down by A.A. Milne • 51 poems by A.A. MilneEdit
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- by A.A. Milne • 51 poems
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A. A. (Alan Alexander) Milne (1882-1956), famous for his stories about Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin, Tigger, Piglet and the rest, was a soldier in the Great War from 1915 to 1919 -- including the Battle of the Somme. Milne's poem "From a Full Heart" was included in The Sunny Side (1921), and prophesies his post-war retiring action from such woods as Delville, High, Mametz, and Trones, to Pooh's "The Hundred Acre Wood."
Milne died in England in 1956
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I loved this poem, even before Kermit's nephew recited it on the Muppet Show.
Now, as an adult, I think it is a perfect explanation of quantum electron states in physics (uh-oh, my inner nerd is showing!).
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I love this poem. As a young girls in the early 60s, I used to love my poetry books. This one was one of my all time favorites. It really captures the essence of being small. Sitting in the middle of a long staircase was really pretty magical.
hurray!!!
From guest Dr Alan and Fiona Barrie (contact)
Have been looking for this for my boys for ages, was their favorite when they were two and an excellent way to get them to sit still!.My favorite
From guest Barb (contact)
I learned this poem when I was a child in the 50's. My grandchildren love it as much as I do. This is by far my all time favorite poem.memories
From guest VWeeks (contact)
This poem always reminds me of when I was a kid and Mom and Dad would have music parties, I would sit halfway down the stairs, where they could not see me, enjoy watching the party and listening to the music. Good memories. I love this poem!- From guest Jen Fowkes (contact)
I loved this poem as a child my grandad uesed to read it to me and my sister before bed when we stayed at my nan and grandads house, a timeless poem i love it! Thank you
From guest Jill Vanderwood (contact)
I've always loved this poem. Thank you for sharing it here!love it
From guest Brittney (contact)
I love this poem! It is my favorite and remember winning a contest in 3rd grade by reciting it!great poem
From guest emma (contact)
aa MILNE you write such beautyful poems me and my family enjoy them i am 8 years old my name is emma- From guest marcee king (contact)
one of my all-time favorite poems! - Oh dear! Hangs my head with shame.... To think that I knew this one but only because I remember hearing it on the Muppets Show as a young child! lolol. It stuck in the head though and has gained much thought on it over the years! Well, well, well... ;D
- From guest JBHeaton (contact)
Thank you for THE PICTURE by E. H. Shepard illustrating Halfway Down. My grandson and I will enjoy reading the poem and talking about that picture when he's here Saturday.
- I hope you like the poem AND image now.
Jim For my Grandson
From guest JBHeaton (contact)
This poem was in my Winnie the Pooh book when I was a child. I loved the poem and illustration with it. This afternoon my grandson was sitting halfway down and halfway up our stairs as our house and he reminded me of the poem and illustration. I looked for the poem to share it with him then, couldn't find it until now. I'll share it with him next time he's here, just wish I could show him that illustration too. He's three and a half. I'm sixty eight. The poem is timeless.I Love it
From guest Samantha (contact)
Wow! i do love this poem it is my all time favourite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoStole.
From guest Ela. (contact)
You stole this poem from - http://everydaymusings.blogspot.com/2007/02/childrens-poetry-two-for-stairs.html - I am sorry to say. That's stealing, by the way, and it's against the law.. I'm n=on 12 years old; and I still know you stole it..- From guest Heather (contact)
I loved this poem as a child! Halfway down
From guest L.Taylor (contact)
I remember this poem sang by Kermit the frogs nephew on my tape when I was a little girl, it was a firm favourite and popped back into my head whilst I was sat on the stairs the other day.Halfway Down
From guest John Parker (contact)
My future son in law and my daughter used to sit on our stairwell for hours nightly. They recently had their 26th anniversery, have three boys, and pastor a church. Tonight we had dinner together, and I reminded them of those days. My son ln law said "Good memories - Good memories" Halfway down but also halfway up! Forever a Christopher Robin and Pooh fan- From guest May Lawrence (contact)
I loved this poem as a child, memorized it and repeated it often. I taught it to my niece and she claims it as her own. Poetry and music.
From guest Elizabeth (contact)
I also was raised with A.A. Milne work including this poem put to music. When I'm home my uncle and I still sit at the piano and sing. This is always included. Singing this with him is one of my most treasured memories.Lovely!
From guest Elise (contact)
My little girl loves to sit on the bottom stair (not halfway down though) and it puts me in mind of this poem.Oh!
From guest zimabz (contact)
I was pretty much brought up on A A Milne work. I lost my collection for a few years and when i found it again, wow!! Thank you, this brings back a lot of happy memorieshalf way
From guest jill (contact)
I am 41 years old and probabley havn't thought about this poem for at least 35 years in a little blue book I remember.I remembered the first part but knew there was more. Thankyou!Festival of the Arts
From guest Tanya King (contact)
I was six years old and memorized this poem for our town's Festival of the Arts. I can't remember if I won anything, but I remember the poem. I was a very shy child, so for me to speak in front of a crowd was a big deal. Fond memories!HALFWAY DOWN
From guest JILL (contact)
Love this poem!!! I used to read it to my kids and now I'm going to read it to some kids for Read Across America for Dr. Seuss's Birthday. 3/4/09Halfway Down
From guest Hatti (contact)
I grew up with this poem, but couldn't remember the entire poem, or who wrote it. Thanks for making it availavle for viewing.- From guest June (contact)
This is my very favourite poem. I have just acquired a puppy who loves to sit halfway up the stairs! Uncanny. half way
From guest kappazeu (contact)
I'm involved in Sunday school and I'm a dad and this hits home as to the way kids sometimes feel. Thank youHalfway down, not halfway done
From guest Jennifer (contact)
Thank you for completing one of my favorite poems. The second part is actually just as important as the first when you realize the "deep thought" attributed to a young child of the poem. I have a picture of my own daughter sitting with "When We Were Very Young" halfway down our own stairs!halfway down by A.A. Milne
From guest bethany (contact)
I had to memorize this poem for school to present to the little kids. It's very creative and interesting. It is also short and easy for me to memorize and easy for kids to understand.- ~*~Well i like it.~*~ ~*~Does it really matter if the second half is missing?~*~ ~*~The first half is better anyway.~*~
- i think it is a great poem. and yes the second half is missing. i think this poem is really inspiring and makes you think.
- You didn't finish the poem, "Halfway Down" by A.A. Milne. Here is the rest:
Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up
And it isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery,
It isn't in town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head.
It isn't really
Anywhere!
It's somewhere else
Instead! cute poem, but the ending is not included on this site
This poem has another stanza of 11 lines which introduces 'halfway up the stairs'. so really the poem has 24 lines, not 13.
