THE SALT OF THE EARTH
Algernon Charles Swinburne

IF childhood were not in the world,
      But only men and women grown;
No bahy-locks in tendrils curled,
      No baby-blossoms blown;

Though men were stronger, women fairer,
      And nearer all delights in reach,
And erse 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.