Defamation
Defamation - meaning Summary
Defending the Child's Nature
The poem presents a speaker defending a child against petty adult accusations. Everyday childish acts — ink-stained fingers, torn clothes, a sweet tooth — are reframed with sympathetic images like the moon and an autumn morning to show such labels as unfair and trivial. The speaker urges the child to ignore critics and confronts the hypocrisy of those who judge, asking what they would be called if judged in turn.
Read Complete AnalysesWhey are those tears in your eyes, my child? How horrid of them to be always scolding you for nothing! You have stained your fingers and face with ink while writing — is that why they call you dirty? O, fie! Would they dare to call the full moon dirty because it has smudged its face with ink? For every little trifle they blame you, my child. They are ready to find fault for nothing. You tore your clothes while playing — is that why they call you untidy? O, fie! What would they call an autumn morning that smiles through its ragged clouds? Take no heed of what they say to you, my child. They make a long list of your misdeeds. Everybody knows how you love sweet things — is that why they call you greedy? O, fie! What then would they call us who love you?
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