'They tie you down,' a woman said, <br />Whose cheeks should have been flaming red <br />With shame to speak of children so. <br />'When babies come you cannot go <br />In search of pleasure with your friends, <br />And all your happy wandering ends. <br />The things you like you cannot do, <br />For babies make a slave of you.' <br /> <br />I looked at her and said: ''Tis true <br />That children make a slave of you, <br />And tie you down with many a knot, <br />But have you never thought to what <br />It is of happiness and pride <br />That little babies have you tied? <br />Do you not miss the greater joys <br />That come with little girls and boys? <br /> <br />'They tie you down to laughter rare, <br />To hours of smiles and hours of care, <br />To nights of watching and to fears; <br />Sometimes they tie you down to tears <br />And then repay you with a smile, <br />And make your trouble all worth while. <br />They tie you fast to chubby feet, <br />And cheeks of pink and kisses sweet. <br /> <br />'They fasten you with cords of love <br />To God divine, who reigns above. <br />They tie you, whereso'er you roam, <br />Unto the little place called home; <br />And over sea or railroad track <br />They tug at you to bring you back. <br />The happiest people in the town <br />Are those the babies have tied down. <br /> <br />'Oh, go your selfish way and free, <br />But hampered I would rather be, <br />Yes rather than a kingly crown <br />I would be, what you term, tied down; <br />Tied down to dancing eyes and charms, <br />Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms, <br />The fettered slave of girl and boy, <br />And win from them earth's finest joy.'<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/tied-down-5/
