Coventry Patmore's poem "The Toys" is a meditation on the nature of childhood and the

relationship between parents and children. The poem begins with the speaker, a father, rebuking
his son for not listening to him. The father is angry and impatient, and he tells his son that he is
going to throw away all of his toys. The son is heartbroken, and he cries himself to sleep.

The next morning, the father has a change of heart. He realizes that he was too harsh with his
son, and he goes to his son's room to apologize. The father finds his son asleep, and he sees that
the toys are still on the floor. The father picks up the toys and puts them away, and he then sits
down next to his son and watches him sleep.

As the father watches his son sleep, he reflects on the innocence of childhood. He realizes that
children are not capable of understanding the world in the same way that adults do, and that they
should be treated with compassion and understanding. The father also realizes that he needs to be
more patient and forgiving with his son.

The poem ends with the father praying for his son. The father asks God to help his son grow up
to be a good man, and he asks God to forgive him for his harshness.

"The Toys" is a beautiful and moving poem that explores the complex relationship between
parents and children. The poem is full of compassion and understanding, and it offers a powerful
message about the importance of forgiveness and love.

The poem is also notable for its use of imagery. Patmore uses vivid imagery to create a sense of
the innocence of childhood and the power of love. For example, the line "The tear-washed cheek,
the tangled hair" is a powerful image of a child's vulnerability. The line "The toys, the very toys
he played with" is a powerful image of the importance of childhood memories.

"The Toys" is a classic poem that has been enjoyed by readers for generations. The poem is a
reminder of the importance of childhood, the power of love, and the need for forgiveness.