Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHILDREN'S WELCOMING, by ELIZA COOK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHILDREN'S WELCOMING, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: They were indeed a lovely group
Last Line: Than children's welcoming.
Subject(s): Children; Childhood


They were indeed a lovely group
Of happy sportive creatures,
With all of beauty that can dwell
In earthly forms and features.

There was a light in every eye,
A tint on every cheek,
So bright, so deep, that rarer ones
A limner would not seek.

They sprang about the spangled sod
Like young and gamesome deer;
And thrillingly their voices fell
Upon my heart and ear.

With minds of childish innocence,
Unsullied and unbent;
Though living in a world of sin,
They knew not what sin meant.

"Come on," they cried, "we've decked your seat
With fresh-pulled oaken boughs;
We've gathered flowers, and you must weave
Them round about our brows.

"We've chased each other down the hill,
And through the primrose vale,
But now we'll listen, while you sit
And tell the promised tale.

"We've run to meet you at the gate,
And watched and waited long:
Come on, come on -- we're all right glad
To have you in our throng."

And then the urchins clambering up,
Gave many an earnest kiss;
And led me on, with wild delight,
Towards their fields of bliss.

Oh, how I loved the fairy elves!
I blessed them, for I knew
Their inmost thoughts were on their lips,
Their welcoming was true.

There was a strong endearing spell
Around their artless ways;
I feared no treachery 'neath their smiles,
No falsehood in their praise.

Let cynics sneer. -- I sat me down
And wreathed their waving hair;
And, pleased as they, 'twere hard to tell,
Which heart was happiest there.

blessed them all; and much I doubt
If time will ever bring,
Words to my ear more musical
Than children's welcoming.





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