Explore "Hugo's "Child at Play"" by Eugene Field on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A child was singing at his play -- / I heard the song, and paused to hear; / His mother moaning, groaning lay, / And, lo! a specter stood anear!
The child shook sunlight from his hair, / And caroled gaily all day long -- / Aye, with that specter gloating there, / The innocent made mirth and song!
How like to harvest fruit wert thou, / O sorrow, in that dismal room -- / God ladeth not the tender bough / Save with the joy of bud and bloom!