Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By WinifredHowells

1529 The Poet and the Child

“AND you, Sir Poet, shall you make, I pray,

This child a poet with that insight rare

They tell me poets have, that everywhere

He sees new beauties lost to common clay?”

“Nay,” said the poet, “rather lend the boy

Your scarf of gauze, to veil his questioning eye,

Lest in his pleasure he should aught descry

But what is fair; so shall he much enjoy.”

She lightly laughed as she regained the band

Now strolling on (to her it seemed a jest

Turned for her pleasure); but behind the rest

The poet and the child walked hand in hand.