The Play-Ground
Key
| Textual Feature | Appearance |
|---|---|
| Overwritten | brown with strikethrough |
| Added inline | purple with double underline |
| Uncertain | gray with wavy underline |
| Supplied from another source | turquoise with brackets |
| Metamark | |
| Long deletion | gray background with top and bottom border |
[begin leaf 1 recto]
are merry children, the village children come—
The cheeriest things on earth,
I see them play—I hear their tones
Of loud and reckless mirth.—
And many a clear and flute‑like laugh
Comes ^Flies ringing through the air;
And many a roguish flashing eye,
And rich red cheek are there.—
O, lovely, happy children!
I am with you in my soul:
I shout—I strike the ball with you—
With you I race and roll.—
Methinks, white‑winged angels,
Floating unseen the while,
Hover around this village green,
And pleasantly they smile.
O, angels! guard these children!
Keep grief and guilt away:
From worldly harm—from evil thoughts—
O shield them night and day—!
[begin leaf 1 verso]
The Play‑Ground.
When painfully athwart my brain Dark thoughts come crowding on, And, sick of worldly hollowness, My heart feels sad and lone— Then out upon the green I walk, Just ere the close of day, And swift I ween the sight I view Clears all my gloom away.— For there