Poems (Botta)/Little Red Riding Hood
For works with similar titles, see Little Red Riding Hood.
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.
“Heaven lies about us in our infancy.”
Sweet child of fairy land! since first I dwelt, with tearful eye,Upon the page that tells thy tale, Long years have glided by.
Then, in thy fabled history, No marvel could I see;For then the worlds of thought and sense Were fairy lands to me.
The fields and meadows were as bright As those where thou didst stray;—And gaily through their tangled flowers, Like thee I took my way.
And while I walked that sunny path, Nor doubt nor fear was mine;For childhood’s trustfulness and faith Are ever strong, like thine.
Alas! that coming years should throw Dark shadows o’er our way;And leave us with this aching sense Of glory passed away.