Read the poem.
Colored Toys
When I bring to you colored toys, my child,
I understand why there is such a play of colors on clouds, on water,
and why flowers are painted in tints
---when I give colored toys to you, my child.
When I sing to make you dance
I truly now why there is music in leaves,
and why waves send their chorus of voices to the heart of the listening earth
---when I sing to make you dance.
When I bring sweet things to your greedy hands
I know why there is honey in the cup of the flowers
and why fruits are secretly filled with sweet juice
---when I bring sweet things to your greedy hands.
When I kiss your face to make you smile, my darling,
I surely understand what pleasure streams from the sky in morning light,
and what delight that is that is which the summer breeze brings to my body
---when I kiss you to make you smile.
This poem, titled "Colored Toys," explores the connection between a parent and child through the act of giving and bringing joy. The speaker expresses their understanding of the beauty and joy that comes from colors, music, sweetness, and affection.
In the first stanza, the speaker mentions bringing colored toys to their child and relates it to the play of colors found in nature, such as clouds and water. By giving their child colored toys, the speaker suggests that they are hoping to bring about the same sense of wonder and beauty that nature evokes.
The second stanza reveals how the speaker sings to their child in order to make them dance. They understand the music in leaves and the harmonious voices of waves, and aim to transmit this joy and rhythm through their song. The act of singing becomes a way to communicate and connect with their child on a deeper level.
The third stanza describes the sweetness that the speaker brings to their child's hands. They compare this sweetness to honey found in flowers and the secret juiciness of fruits. By providing their child with sweet things, the speaker hopes to bring them pleasure and satisfaction.
Lastly, the speaker kisses their child's face to make them smile. They express their understanding of the joy that comes from the morning light and the delight brought by the summer breeze. The act of kissing becomes a means of sharing and spreading happiness.
Overall, "Colored Toys" celebrates the bond between a parent and child, emphasizing the ways in which the parent seeks to bring joy, beauty, and happiness to their child's life through various sensory experiences.