Children by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Hearing children at play, the speaker calls them near and says perplexing questions have vanished. Their sunshine and flowing thoughts contrast with the speaker's inward autumn and snow; their affection outweighs bookish wisdom, and they are called living poems.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Childhood Poetry · 328 words
First lines
Come to me, O ye children! / For I hear you at your play, / And the questions that perplexed me / Have vanished quite away.
Ye open the eastern windows, / That look towards the sun, / Where thoughts are singing swallows / And the brooks of morning run.
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The speaker directly addresses children in rhymed stanzas, expressing the relief and gladness their presence brings.
- Childhood Poetry — Children's play, affection, and bright thoughts are contrasted with the speaker's autumnal inner life.
Tags
childhood · children's play · affection · adult worries · bookish wisdom
What this Textopian page supports
Children is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Childhood Poetry
- Length: 328 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Children by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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