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...FAIRYLAND (1) by EDGAR ALLAN POE THE YEARS TO BE by WILLIAM ROSE BENET WRITTEN .. AUTHOR'S BATHING AT TEIGNMOUTH, FOR THE HEAD-ACHE by JANE CAVE IMPOSSIBILITIES by ABRAHAM COWLEY A HYMN FOR A CHILD THAT HAS UNGODLY PARENTS by WILLIAM COWPER A MYSTERY by ROWLAND EYLES EGERTON-WARBURTON |