Graves starts off by describing the 'greatness, rareness, muchness' of the diversity of life, and how how life is full opportunities. He goes on to describe "Red and green...yellow...black" shades of life, to reflect how rich life can be, and how many possibilities there are to experience. He then urges the children to "untie the string" of life in order to expose them to the wonders of life.
However, towards the end of the poem he urges the "Children, leave the string alone!"which indicates that eventually greed overtakes until they "Find [themselves] enclosed" around all the wonderful parts of life, but unable to be a part of it.
