Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO A CHILD, by JOANNA BAILLIE


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TO A CHILD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Whose imp art thou, with dimpled cheek
Last Line: And thou a thing of hope and change.
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


Whose imp art thou, with dimpled cheek,
And curly pate and merry eye,
And arm and shoulder round and sleek,
And soft and fair? -- thou urchin sly!

What boots it who, with sweet caresses,
First called thee his, -- or squire or hind?
Since thou in every wight that passes,
Dost now a friendly playmate find.

Thy downcast glances, grave but cunning,
As fringed eyelids rise and fall;
Thy shyness swiftly from me running,
Is infantine coquetry all.

But far afield thou hast not flown,
With mocks and threats, half lisped, half spoken,
I feel thee pulling at my gown,
Of right good will thy simple token.

And thou must laugh and wrestle, too,
A mimic warfare with me waging;
To make, as wily lovers do,
Thy after-kindness more engaging.

The wilding rose, sweet as thyself,
And new-cropt daisies are thy treasure;
I'd gladly part with worldly pelf
To taste again thy youthful pleasure.

But yet for all thy merry look,
Thy frisks and wiles, the time is coming
When thou shalt sit in cheerless nook
Thy weary spell or horn-book thumbing.

Well, let it be! -- through weal and woe,
Thou know'st not now thy future range;
Life is a motley shifting show,
And thou a thing of hope and change.





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