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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dark shadows o’er our way;
And leave us with this aching sense
Of glory passed away.