在《新月集》中,詩人書寫了孩子純凈的心靈。孩子們喜歡玩簡單的小游戲,且樂此不疲。“他們用沙子建造房屋,他們用空貝殼游戲。”“孩子,你多么快樂,整個早晨坐在塵土里,玩著一根折斷的小樹枝。”孩子們有著奇妙的想象,“如果我鬧著玩兒,變成一朵金香木花,長在那樹的高枝上,在風(fēng)中笑得搖搖擺擺,在新生嫩葉上跳舞,媽媽,你認(rèn)得出是我嗎?”此外,《新月集》也描寫了孩子和母親的感情。“他知道慈母心中小小一角就可以容納無窮的歡樂,被母親逮住了緊抱在她慈愛的雙臂里,遠(yuǎn)比自由甜蜜。”在詩人的筆下,詩中的母親帶有一種圣潔的光輝。
IF I were only a little puppy, not your baby, mother dear, would you say "No" to me if I tried to eat from your dish?
如果我只是一只小狗,而不是你的小孩,親愛的媽媽,當(dāng)我想吃你的盤里的東西時,你要向我說“不”么?
Would you drive me off, saying to me, "Get away, you naughty little puppy?"
你要趕開我,對我說道:“滾開,你這淘氣的小狗”么?
Then go, mother, go! I will never come to you when you call me, and never let you feed me any more.
那末,走罷,媽媽,走罷!當(dāng)你叫喚我的時候,我就永不到你那里去,也永不要你再喂我吃東西了。
If I were only a little green parrot, and not your baby, mother dear, would you keep me chained lest I should fly away?
如果我只是一只綠色的小鸚鵡,而不是你的小孩,親愛的媽媽,你要把我緊緊地鎖住,怕我飛走么?
Would you shake your finger at me and say, "What an ungrateful wretch of a bird! It is gnawing at its chain day and night?"
你要對我搖你的手,說道:“怎樣的一個不知感恩的賤鳥呀!整夜地盡在咬它的鏈子”么?
Then, go, mother, go! I will run away into the woods; I will never let you take me in your arms again.
那末,走罷,媽媽,走罷!我要跑到樹林里去;我就永不再讓你抱我在你的臂里了。