Childhood

It should be noted that children at play are not playing about; their games should be seen as their most serious-minded activity.

The childhood shows the man,

I have had playmates, I have had companions,

Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo.

Before you judge me, try hard to love me, look within your heart

What do we ever get nowadays from reading to equal the excitement and the revelation in those first fourteen years?

There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.

Here we go round the prickly pear

Stands the Church clock at ten to three?

Saturday mornings we listened to Red Lantern & his undersea folk. At 11, Let’s Pretend / & we did / & I, the poet, still do, Thank God!

Never such innocence again.

Maud went to college. Sadie stayed at home. Sadie scraped life With a fine-tooth comb.

And honored among foxes and pheasants by the gay house Under the new-made clouds and happy as the heart was long, I ran my heedless ways.

And honored among wagons I was prince of the apple towns.

Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green.

Forgotten mornings when he walked with his mother Of sunlight And the legend of the green chapels.

Childhood Is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies

To joyously savor one single instant of initial life I seek an innocent country 1

First there’s the children’s house of make believe, Some shattered dishes underneath a pine, The playthings in the playhouse of the children. Weep for what little things could make them glad.

Child! do not throw this book about; Refrain from the unholy pleasure Of cutting all the pictures out! Preserve it as your chiefest treasure.

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

A child should always say what’s true And speak when he is spoken to, And behave mannerly at table; At least as far as he is able.

Oh! the old swimmin’ hole! When I last saw the place, The scenes was all changed, like the change in my face.

An’ all us other children, when the supper things is done, We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ’at Annie tells about, An’ the Gobble-uns ’at gits you Ef you Watch Out!