这首诗并未写明是谁在敲天堂的门，但人们往往将之理解为一个孩子。据说Folger McKinsey就是受此启发，写下了那首让人心碎的《A Little Knock》——
这是《A Little Knock》的第一节：A little hand came knocking on my door：/ "Let me turn in: I won't be bad no more!" / A little voice in tearful murmur plead - / Somehow I wish that I had long been dead / Ere from her knocking I could turn away / Ere to her pleading I could answer nay / Or yet refuse to ope and let her in / Who had so little done of guile or sin
一只小手来敲我的门：/ 伴随着含泪颤抖的小声音 /“让我进去吧，我会做个好孩子！”/ 这时我只希望自己早已死 / 当她敲门时我可以转身离去 / 当她恳求时我可以说“对不起”/ 或者不顾一切地为她打开门 / 让我们的罪孽不至于那么深。…