--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you so…" description: "\"“Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you so cold? And why do you lie with your eyes shut?-- You are not very old. I am a Child of this World And a Child of G..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/stevie-smith-8661_children_dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold_1677958.png" --- # Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you so cold? And why do you… ![“Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you so cold? And why do you lie with your eyes shut?-- You are not very old. I am a Child of this World And a Child of Grace, And Mother, I shall be glad when it is over, I am Bog-Face.” quote by Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/stevie-smith-8661_children_dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold_1677958.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/stevie-smith-8661_children_dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold_1677958.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/stevie-smith-8661_children_dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold_1677958.png) > ““Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you so cold? And why do you lie with your eyes shut?-- You are not very old. I am a Child of this World And a Child of Grace, And Mother, I shall be glad when it is over, I am Bog-Face.”” [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A poetic dialogue expressing empathy for a cold, possibly dying child, blending innocence with existential reflection. **In simple terms:** Shows empathy for a cold, possibly dying child. Key Takeaway Offer compassion to those suffering. Themes empathy death innocence existential poetry Mood somber reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - care for the ill - mental health support - end‑of‑life discussions - art therapy Key Concepts humanity mortality childhood grief spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What does “Bog‑Face” symbolize? - How can we better support the vulnerable? A Different Perspective The poem’s ambiguous tone may obscure its intended message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [I came in haste with cursing breath, And heart of hardest steel; But when I saw thee cold in death, I felt as man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-came-in-haste-with-cursing-breath-and-heart-of-hardest-steel-but/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I turned around slowly, and looked up at him. He stiffened and sucked in a shallow breath. After a moment, he touched my cheek.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-turned-around-slowly-and-looked-up-at-him-he-stiffened-and-sucked/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [I knew that my hair was falling out and I had really weird skin. My face looked really weird and I was getting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-knew-that-my-hair-was-falling-out-and-i-had-really-weird-skin-my/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [Jesus watches from the wall, But his face is cold as stone, And if he loves me As she tells me Why do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/jesus-watches-from-the-wall-but-his-face-is-cold-as-stone-and-if-he/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“In the face of cold power, she is fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/in-the-face-of-cold-power-she-is-fire/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [“Dear Little Children, don't ever give up on your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-wolf/dear-little-children-don-t-ever-give-up-on-your-dreams/) [Heather Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-wolf/) > [“And now dear little children, who may this story read, To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed: Unto an evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-howitt/and-now-dear-little-children-who-may-this-story-read-to-idle-silly/) [Mary Howitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-howitt/) > [“Dear my little children I work hard so as to make your lives better. so don't rest until you do thesame to your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamzatribah/dear-my-little-children-i-work-hard-so-as-to-make-your-lives-better/) [Hamzatribah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamzatribah/) > [“He welcomes the chance to do fatherly things with the little girl, and those ten morning minutes with dear little four-year-old Ruby, with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-spencer/he-welcomes-the-chance-to-do-fatherly-things-with-the-little-girl-and/) [Scott Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-spencer/) > [“My dear little daughter,” said he, “you cannot be so glad to come back as my arms and my heart will be to receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-warner/my-dear-little-daughter-said-he-you-cannot-be-so-glad-to-come-back-as/) Susan Warner > [“My dear little big Marianne, ... I hope that you will grow up to be a healthy, happy and strong human being. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-payne/my-dear-little-big-marianne-i-hope-that-you-will-grow-up-to-be-a/) Karen Payne > [We are all too much inclined, I think, to walk through life with our eyes shut. There are things all round us and right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/we-are-all-too-much-inclined-i-think-to-walk-through-life-with-our/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [“Of course I remember you." My voice is a strangled whisper. I squeeze my eyes shut. "You were the only one who ever looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/of-course-i-remember-you-my-voice-is-a-strangled-whisper-i-squeeze-my/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [I think if you're going on thinking oh, I can do this with my eyes shut, then it's probably not the right thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-think-if-you-re-going-on-thinking-oh-i-can-do-this-with-my-eyes/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [“Travis clenched his eyes shut, and a sinking feeling settled over me. It was agonizing seeing him suffer, knowing that not only was I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/travis-clenched-his-eyes-shut-and-a-sinking-feeling-settled-over-me/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) ## More by Stevie Smith > [I only asked my friends to be friendly and polite, I found them indifferent and censorious; The one I left to silence, the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/i-only-asked-my-friends-to-be-friendly-and-polite-i-found-them/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [Oh, no no no, it was too cold always (Still the dead one lay moaning) I was much too far out all my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/oh-no-no-no-it-was-too-cold-always-still-the-dead-one-lay-moaning-i/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [“Wild creatures' eyes, the colonel said, Are innocent and fathomless And when I look at them I see That they are not aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/wild-creatures-eyes-the-colonel-said-are-innocent-and-fathomless-and/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [“Raise from your bed of languor Raise from your bed of dismay Your friends will not come tomorrow As they did not come today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/raise-from-your-bed-of-languor-raise-from-your-bed-of-dismay-your/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [“There is a god in whom I do not believe Yet to this god my love stretches, This god whom I do not believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/there-is-a-god-in-whom-i-do-not-believe-yet-to-this-god-my-love/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [So I fancy my Muse says, when I wish to die, Oh no, Oh no, we are not yet friends enough, And Virtue also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/so-i-fancy-my-muse-says-when-i-wish-to-die-oh-no-oh-no-we-are-not-yet/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [If a lady comes up to you and tells you that your dear mama is lying in a faint on the pavement round the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/if-a-lady-comes-up-to-you-and-tells-you-that-your-dear-mama-is-lying/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [I like food, I like stripping vegetables of their skins, I like to have a slim young parsnip under my knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/i-like-food-i-like-stripping-vegetables-of-their-skins-i-like-to-have/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [Death's not a separation or alteration or parting; it's just a one-handled door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/death-s-not-a-separation-or-alteration-or-parting-it-s-just-a-one/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [The flower and fruit of love are mine The ant, the fieldmouse and the mole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/the-flower-and-fruit-of-love-are-mine-the-ant-the-fieldmouse-and-the/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [“Prate not to me of suicide, Faint heart in battle, not for pride I say Endure, but that such end denied Makes welcomer yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/prate-not-to-me-of-suicide-faint-heart-in-battle-not-for-pride-i-say/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [It is an amiable part of human nature, that we should love our animals; it is even better to love them to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/it-is-an-amiable-part-of-human-nature-that-we-should-love-our-animals/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [My Muse sits forlorn She wishes she had not been born She sits in the cold No word she says is ever told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/my-muse-sits-forlorn-she-wishes-she-had-not-been-born-she-sits-in-the/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [There are moments of despair that come sometimes, when night sets in and a white fog presses against the windows. Then our house changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/there-are-moments-of-despair-that-come-sometimes-when-night-sets-in/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [Fourteen-year-old, why must you giggle and dote, Fourteen-year-old, why are you such a goat? I'm fourteen years old, that is the reason, I giggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/fourteen-year-old-why-must-you-giggle-and-dote-fourteen-year-old-why/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) [Explore all 79 Stevie Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you so cold? And why do you lie with your eyes shut?-- You are not very old. I am a Child of this World And a Child of Grace, And Mother, I shall be glad when it is over, I am Bog-Face.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stevie Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold-and-why-do-you-lie-with-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold-and-why-do-you-lie-with-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/stevie-smith-8661_children_dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold_1677958.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/stevie-smith-8661_children_dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold_1677958.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b2/stevie-smith-8661_children_dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold_1677958.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you so cold? And why do you lie with your eyes shut?-- You are not very old. I…” — Stevie Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stevie Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Dear little Bog-Face, Why are you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold-and-why-do-you-lie-with-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/dear-little-bog-face-why-are-you-so-cold-and-why-do-you-lie-with-your/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```