As Children
By John Herlihy

Infants gurgle without a care to wit,
In the arms of mother, content to sit.
All babies scream aloud in protestation,
Their demands despise undue hesitation.
When they want something, they shout,
When unhappy, they will frown and pout.
When bored, they throw their toy away,
When restless, infants want you to play.
Misery and despair not in their lexicon,
Its urge to walk and talk their Rubicon.
Often when awake, they begin to cry,
Tears moisten the pillow where they lie.
With no need to talk, they keep silent,
With no need to balk, they stay pliant.
Their smiles a miracle to have and hold,
Their tears betray their sorrows untold.
As children, they can never do any wrong,
Little voices fill our hearts with birdsong.
As we age, we remember how it all began,
A child still lives in every woman and man.