原诗有三段：

　　LIFEbySarojiniNaidu

　　CHILDREN,yehavenotlived,toyouitseems

　　Lifeisalovelystalactiteofdreams,

　　Orcarnivalofcarelessjoysthatleap

　　Aboutyourheartslikebillowsonthedeep

　　Inflamesofamberandofamethyst.

　　Children,yehavenotlived,yebutexist

　　Tillsomeresistlesshourshallriseandmove

　　Yourheartstowakeandhungerafterlove,

　　Andthirstwithpassionatelongingforthethings

　　Thatburnyourbrowswithblood-redsufferings.

　　Tillyehavebattledwithgreatgriefandfears,

　　Andbornetheconflictofdream-shatteringyears,

　　Woundedwithfiercedesireandwornwithstrife,

　　Children,yehavenotlived:forthisislife.