THE SALT OF THE EARTH

If childhood were not in the world,

But only men and women grown;

No baby-locks in tendrils curled,

No baby-blossoms blown;

Though men were stronger, women fairer,

And nearer all delights in reach,

And verse and music uttered rarer

Tones of more godlike speech;

Though the utmost life of life's best hours

Found, as it cannot now find, words;

Though desert sands were sweet as flowers

And flowers could sing like birds,

But children never heard them, never

They felt a child's foot leap and run

This were a drearier star than ever

Yet looked upon the sun.