Poems (Follen)/Children in Slavery
CHILDREN IN SLAVERY.
When children play the livelong day, Like birds and butterflies; As free and gay, sport life away, And know not care nor sighs: Then earth and air seem fresh and fair, All peace below, above: Life's flowers are there, and everywhere Is innocence and love.
When children pray with fear all day, A blight must be at hand: Then joys decay, and birds of prey Are hovering o'er the land: When young hearts weep as they go to sleep, Then all the world seems sad: The flesh must creep, and woes are deep When children are not glad.