And as I played, a child came thro' the gate, A boy who looked at me without a word, As tho' he saw stretch far behind my head Long lines of radiant angels, row on row. That day we spoke a little, timidly, And after that I never heard the voice That sang so many songs for love of me.

Summary

This quote portrays a fleeting encounter between the speaker and a child. The child's silent gaze suggests an ability to perceive a profound depth to the speaker's being, symbolized by the "long lines of radiant angels." Despite their tentative conversation, the speaker notes the absence of the child's voice thereafter, which had previously sung numerous songs out of love. The quote captures a sense of bewilderment and loss, leaving the reader to ponder the significance of this encounter and the subsequent silence.

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