Children Quote by Dennis Lee
““It would be better maybe if we could stop loving the children and their delicate brawls, pelting across the square in tandem, deking from cover to cover in raucous celebration and they are never winded, bemusing us with the rites of our own gone childhood; if only they stopped mattering, the children, it might be possible, now while the square lies stunned by noon.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unspecified, likely contemporary
The speaker laments children's noisy play, wishing they would cease, suggesting that adult nostalgia and irritation hinder appreciation of youthful joy.
In simple terms: Children's play annoys adults, who wish it would stop.
Key Takeaway
Consider how adult perspective colors perception of youth.
Themes
nostalgia
irritation
generational gap
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
observational
When to use this quote
- urban life
- parenting
- public spaces
- mental health
Key Concepts
idealization of youth
social distraction
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the children's play symbolize for you?
- How can adults reclaim wonder without resentment?
A Different Perspective
Adults may miss the value of spontaneous joy.
