| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1529. The Poet and the Child |
| | | By Winifred Howells |
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| “AND you, Sir Poet, shall you make, I pray, | |
| This child a poet with that insight rare | |
| They tell me poets have, that everywhere | |
| He sees new beauties lost to common clay?” | |
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| “Nay,” said the poet, “rather lend the boy | 5 |
| Your scarf of gauze, to veil his questioning eye, | |
| Lest in his pleasure he should aught descry | |
| But what is fair; so shall he much enjoy.” | |
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| She lightly laughed as she regained the band | |
| Now strolling on (to her it seemed a jest | 10 |
| Turned for her pleasure); but behind the rest | |
| The poet and the child walked hand in hand. | |
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