Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. IV. The Nineteenth Century: Wordsworth to Rossetti

Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864)

Children Playing in a Churchyard

CHILDREN, keep up that harmless play,

Your kindred angels plainly say

By God’s authority ye may.

Be prompt his Holy word to hear,

It teaches you to banish fear;

The lesson lies on all sides near.

Ten summers hence the sprightliest lad

In Nature’s face will look more sad,

And ask where are those smiles she had?

Ere many days the last will close.

Play on, play on, for then (who knows?)

Ye who play here may here repose.