1829

"INNOCENT CHILD AND SNOW-WHITE FLOWER"

by William Cullen Bryant

INNOCENT CHILD AND SNOW-WHITE FLOWER -

Innocent child and snow-white flower!

Well are ye paired in your opening hour.

Thus should the pure and the lovely meet,

Stainless with stainless, and sweet with sweet. -

White as those leaves, just blown apart,

Are the folds of thy own young heart;

Guilty passion and cankering care

Never have left their traces there. -

Artless one! though thou gazest now

O'er the white blossom with earnest brow,

Soon will it tire thy childish eye;

Fair as it is, thou wilt throw it by. -

Throw it aside in thy weary hour,

Throw to the ground the fair white flower;

Yet, as thy tender years depart,

Keep that white and innocent heart. - -