CHILDHOOD

childhood

(summer,1796.textof1818)

inmypoorminditismostsweettomuse

uponthedaysgoneby;toactinthought

pastseasonso'er,andbeagainachild;

tositinfancyontheturf-cladslope,

downwhichthechildwouldroll;topluckgayflowers,

makeposiesinthesun,whichthechild'shand,

(childhoodoffendedsoon,soonreconciled,)

wouldthrowaway,andstraittakeupagain,

thenflingthemtothewinds,ando'erthelawn

boundwithsoplayfulandsolightafoot,

thatthepress'ddaisyscarcedeclinedherhead.