WHEN to the garden of untroubled thought I came of late, and saw the open door, And wished again to enter, and explore The sweet, wild ways with stainless bloom in- wrought, And bowers of innocence with beauty fraught. It seemed some purer voice must speak before I dared to tread that garden loved of yore, That Eden lost unknown and found unsought. Then just within the gate I saw a child, -- A stranger-child, yet to my heart most dear, -- Who held his hands to me, and softly smiled With eyes that knew no shade of sin or fear: "Come in," he said, and play awhile with me; I am the little child you used to be." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A WINTER PIECE by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE FACE ON THE [BAR-ROOM] FLOOR by HUGH ANTOINE D'ARCY A SONG TO CELIA by CHARLES SEDLEY A SONNET. OF LOVE by PHILIP AYRES TO A BIRD IN THE CITY by MATTHIAS BARR WITH ILLUSTRATION TO GRAY'S POEMS by WILLIAM BLAKE DEAD OUT-OF-DOORS by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |