Living
Boyhood and Girlhood
From Poems (1851), vol. II: Poems Referring to the Period of Infancy and Childhood
Did our first parents in their happy seat,
New from the Maker's hand, a wedded pair,
In livelier hues their several sex declare
Than that brave boy, and that wee lady sweet
Though not in measure nor in mind complete
They come, a perfect husband and a bride ;
Yet is the seal impress'd and testified
By prophet Nature, till the season meet.
The girl, a girl instinct with simple arts.
And all the innocent cunning of her sex ;
A very girl, delighting to perplex
The eye of love with antic change of parts :
Burly and bold the lad, his mien denotes
One-hearted manhood even in petticoats.
Cite this poem
MLA
Coleridge, Hartley. “Boyhood and Girlhood.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge_h/188/.
Chicago
Coleridge, Hartley. “Boyhood and Girlhood.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge_h/188/.
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