There was a child once. <br />He came to play in my garden; <br />He was quite pale and silent. <br />Only when he smiled I knew everything about him, <br />I knew what he had in his pockets, <br />And I knew the feel of his hands in my hands <br />And the most intimate tones of his voice. <br />I led him down each secret path, <br />Showing him the hiding-place of all my treasures. <br />I let him play with them, every one, <br />I put my singing thoughts in a little silver cage <br />And gave them to him to keep... <br />It was very dark in the garden <br />But never dark enough for us. On tiptoe we walked <br /> among the deepest shades; <br />We bathed in the shadow pools beneath the trees, <br />Pretending we were under the sea. <br />Once--near the boundary of the garden-- <br />We heard steps passing along the World-road; <br />O how frightened we were! <br />I whispered: "Have you ever walked along that road?" <br />He nodded, and we shook the tears from our eyes.... <br /> <br />There was a child once. <br />He came--quite alone--to play in my garden; <br />He was pale and silent. <br />When we met we kissed each other, <br />But when he went away, we did not even wave<br /><br />Katherine Mansfield<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/there-was-a-child-once/
