Sunday, 08 May 2011

TIED DOWN?

by Edgar A. Guest


"They tie you down," a woman said,
Whose cheeks should have been flaming red
With shame to speak of children so.
"When babies come you cannot go
In search of pleasure with your friends,
And all your happy wandering ends.
The things you like you cannot do,
For babies make a slave of you."

I looked at her and said: "Tis true
That Children make a slave of you,
And tie you down with many a knot,
But have you never thought to what
It is of happiness and pride
That little babies have you tied?
Do you not miss the greater joys
That come with little girls and boys?


"They tie you down to laughter rare,
To hours of smiles and hours of care,
To nights of watching and to fears;
Sometimes they tie you down to tears

And then repay you with a smile,
And make your trouble all worth while.
They tie you fast to chubby feet
And cheeks of pink and kisses sweet.


"They fasten you with cords of love
To God divine, who reigns above.
They tie you, whereso'er you roam,
Unto the little place called home;
And over sea or railroad track
They tug at you to bring you back.
The happiest people in the town
Are those the babies have tied down.


"Oh, go your selfish way and free
But hampered I would rather be,
Yes rather than a kingly crown
I would be, what you term, tied down;
Tied down to dancing eyes and charms,
Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms,
The fettered slave of girl and boy,
And win from them earth's finest joy."


3 comments:

  1. Sjoe, daai foto in die NICU - ons het amper identiese foto's... Dis altyd vir my so hartseer dat mense wat met hulle hele hart gewens het vir kinders en soms 'n lang en swaar pad gestap het om hulle te kry selde kla oor "vasgebind" te wees deur kinders, maar dat sommige van die ander ouens vir wie dit so maklik gekom het bevry wil word so gou die baba daar is.

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  2. Dis so waar Esther en so mooi.... Ja, hoe kan 'n mens dit ooit verruil?

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  3. Dit is so waar! En soos ek nou net vir Linnie geskryf het: HOe minder ons selfsugtig is,hoe meer liefde het ons en ervaar ons. Dit is selfsugtigheid wat maak dat mense dink kinders is n las. Dit is die grootste geskenk wat daar is!

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