Poems (Browning)/Childhood
For works with similar titles, see Childhood.
Thoughts of Childhood
Childhood
Childhood
When cradled in the sheltering nest
Of those dear arms, we then liked best
To hear of elfland, o'er and o'er,
Of fairy folk and elfin lore,
Till every nook with terror lurked,
At every turn a goblin smirked,
And e'en the Fireside's yawning grin
Held gnomes of fancy hid within.
When all that childish faith has fled,
When all life's tender dreams are dead,
When ardent love grows sere and cold,
'Tis then, indeed, we are grown old.
Of those dear arms, we then liked best
To hear of elfland, o'er and o'er,
Of fairy folk and elfin lore,
Till every nook with terror lurked,
At every turn a goblin smirked,
And e'en the Fireside's yawning grin
Held gnomes of fancy hid within.
When all that childish faith has fled,
When all life's tender dreams are dead,
When ardent love grows sere and cold,
'Tis then, indeed, we are grown old.